By Mustapha Jallow
A U.S. federal jury on Tuesday found Michael Sang Correa, a former member of Jammeh’s notorious paramilitary unit known as the Junglers, guilty on all six counts related to the torture of detainees accused of attempting a coup against former dictator Yahya Jammeh in 2006.
Judge Christine Arguello of the District Court in Denver, Colorado read the verdict in a packed courtroom, marking a historic moment in the United States for the prosecution of international crimes under the U.S. Torture Act.
Correa, who has been living in the United States, was convicted of conspiracy to commit torture and directly participating in the torture of several individuals during Jammeh’s authoritarian regime.
While sentencing will be determined by Judge Arguello at a later hearing this year, Correa remains in custody. He is expected to appeal the verdict.
The charges were filed under the Extraterritorial Torture Act, a U.S. law that allows federal prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against individuals found on U.S. soil for acts of torture committed abroad. The trial, which drew international attention, lasted several weeks and featured harrowing testimonies from survivors who had fled Gambia and now reside in various parts of the world.
“Correa’s trial and conviction represent an important milestone towards justice for his direct victims, and it is another step towards justice for all who suffered under Jammeh’s regime,” said Tamsir Jasseh, a former police official and current senior advisor to the Gambian Police.
Yaya Darboe, a commanding officer in the Gambia Armed Forces, described the verdict as “crucial for the healing of the victims and of Gambian society.”
Human rights organizations that have long documented abuses during Jammeh’s 22-year rule hailed the outcome. Groups such as the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), TRIAL International, and member organizations of the Alliance of Victim-Led Organizations (AVLO) played key roles in building the case and advocating for Correa’s prosecution.
The Junglers, a death squad that operated under Jammeh’s direct command, were implicated in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture, according to findings by Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
