A historic trial opened this Monday, January 8 in Switzerland. Thanks to the principle of universal jurisdiction, the Federal Criminal Court is trying Gambian Ousman Sonko, former senior executive of the Yahya Jammeh dictatorship. This Monday, the first weapons passes began.
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Never has a man at such a high hierarchical level been tried in Europe under universal jurisdiction. Former commander of the presidential guard, then inspector general of police and finally Minister of the Interior for ten years under the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh, Ousman Sonko is accused of crimes against humanity, torture, kidnapping and even extrajudicial executions. He fled the Gambia in 2016 before being arrested in Switzerland the following year. This trial therefore promises to make history while previously, only one crime from the Yahya Jammeh era has been tried in the world.
Read alsoGambia: opening of the trial before the Swiss courts of a former Minister of the Interior of Yaya Jammeh
According to lawyer Reed Brody, of the International Commission of Jurists, Ousman Sonko was a “ pillar of the regime. He participated in the most important crimes “. According to him, the former minister applied repression, gave orders to assault, torture and rape. But he also has blood directly on his hands, says Reed Brody, who expects a lot from this trial.
“I am filled with anger and pain”
This Monday, the opening of the trial gave way to the first exchanges of arms between lawyers. The plaintiffs’ lawyers insisted that the qualifiers of sexual violence be added for certain facts, in particular torture with electricity on the genitals. For example, a woman he allegedly reduced to slavery and raped at least 60 times must testify. They also asked that aggravating circumstances be considered given the number of victims and the nature of the crimes.
On the side of the accused, his lawyer challenged the jurisdiction of the court for facts prior to a reform of the Swiss penal code in 2011. He also requested the withdrawal of certain testimonies and evidence, inadmissible according to him.
Journalist Madi Ceesay was impatiently awaiting this moment. He was arrested and tortured when Ousman Sonko was inspector general of police. “ This is important to me because I have hope that soon I will get justice. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. I am filled with anger and pain. I hope the judges will give me some relief. I wait for the truth to be heard and justice to be done “, he confided.
Ousman Sonko’s trial is expected to last at least three weeks and could encourage Gambian justice where no crime committed under Yahya Jammeh has yet been tried.