The Correa Trial

In partnership with the Stanford International Human Rights & Conflict Resolution Clinic and the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of San Francisco School of Law, we bring you the latest updates on the trial.

Day 6: Guilty on All Counts – Jury Delivers Verdict in Correa Trial

April 15th 2025

The jury entered the courtroom at 1:59 PM after reaching a unanimous verdict on all charges. Correa was found guilty on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Count 1 was conspiracy to commit torture. Counts 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 related to the torture of Yaya Darboe, Tamsir Jasseh, Demba Dem, Pierre Mendy, and Pharing Sanyang.

The courtroom was packed. Audience members included people who had traveled from The Gambia, members of the Gambian diaspora, human rights advocates, and journalists. As the jury settled into their seats, some audience members began to pray. While the verdict was being read aloud, sighs of relief and gasps could be heard. There was an atmosphere of excitement; a few audience members shed tears. As people left the courtroom, they embraced each other.

Correa remained stoic throughout the proceedings, keeping his eyes on the judge. He briefly looked at the audience before returning his gaze to the judge as she finished reading the verdict.

The judge referred the matter to the probation department for a pre-sentencing report. The Prosecution will reach out to the victims to determine whether they wish to exercise their right to be present, speak, or submit a victim impact statement. After consulting with the victims, the Prosecution will coordinate with the Defense and the Court to schedule a sentencing date.

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Day 5: Closing Arguments, The Judge’s Denial of the Defense’s Motion For Aquittal and the Jury Began Deliberations.

April 14th 2025

On the fifth day of trial, April 14, 2025, the Prosecution concluded its presentation of evidence. The Defense moved for acquittal, which the judge denied. Both the Prosecution and Defense presented their closing arguments, and the jury began deliberations.

 1. Testimony of Barton Garrison

At the start of Garrison’s testimony, the Prosecution resumed playing recordings of Correa’s January 2020 immigration hearing. In the recording, Correa described his involvement with the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), which he joined when he was 21 years old. Correa also shared that he had entered the United States five separate times: in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016. His most recent entry was on December 16, 2019, which he claimed was motivated by a desire to see his brother.

During part of Correa’s service in the GAF, he was assigned to patrol duties at the Senegalese-Gambian border. Due to outdated maps, border patrol officers would frequently and inadvertently cross into Senegal.

Between 2004 and 2006, Correa stated that his mandate had changed. Following the 2006 coup, Correa described two assigned missions. During the first mission, he was ordered to arrest Vincent Jafah at his house and drop him off at the NIA headquarters for questioning about his role in the coup. For the second mission, Correa was ordered to torture Pierre Mendy to extract a forced confession. He was also instructed to wear his military gear while carrying out this order. Correa allegedly expressed hesitation in torturing Mr. Mendy. The official who had commanded him reminded Correa that the order came from the President and that he therefore had no choice. Correa alleged that Mr. Mendy had permitted him to strike him. Correa then ordered Mr. Mendy, who was kneeling, to bend over and struck him until he confessed to his participation.

Two inconsistencies emerged between the government counsel’s questioning in the recording and Garrison’s testimony. In the recording, when asked about the location of the torture, Correa explained that he didn’t enter the compound because it took place in the open yard at the entrance. However, Garrison explained that the courtyard in question was actually located behind the main building. Correa also stated that during Mr. Mendy’s torture, only Tamba and one other Jungler were present. He later contradicted this statement by naming two additional Junglers who were also in the courtyard.

Correa was also questioned about his promotion to corporal in 2007. He stated during his immigration hearing that he did not believe his role in torturing Mr. Mendy played a part in his promotion, as he was due to be promoted after two years of service. When further questioned about the length of his tenure in the GAF, Correa explained that he could not leave if he wanted to receive his pension. He emphasized that he came to the United States in 2016 to visit family and had nothing to fear at home. Correa said the reason he didn’t want to return was the change of power, as the new president was arresting army officials and Junglers from the prior regime.

The Prosecution also presented photographs of the NIA headquarters and Mile II prison. The Defense had no questions for this witness, and the Prosecution rested its case.

 2. Defense Moved to Acquit Correa

The jury was not present for this portion of the trial. After the Prosecution rested its case, the Defense moved to acquit on all charges. For the defendant to be acquitted—or released from all criminal charges—the judge must find that the Prosecution did not present sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to convict. In determining whether there is sufficient evidence, the judge must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government. This means the judge considers everything the government has presented to be true and accurate.

The Prosecution responded to the motion by laying out the evidence presented for each charge. The judge denied the Defense’s motion.

After this, the judge granted a recess so the Defense could confer with Correa about whether he would testify. When court resumed, the Defense confirmed that Correa would not testify and that they had no additional witnesses.

 3. Prosecution Requested Changes to Jury Instructions

The Prosecution and Defense then discussed jury instructions, which guide the jury in deliberation, including how to apply the law and evaluate the facts. Both sides agreed on all jury instructions except for the inclusion of Jury Instruction 25, which outlines the legal elements required for a defense of duress. The judge ultimately denied the Prosecution’s request to remove this instruction, finding that the Defense had presented sufficient evidence to raise the issue of duress.

 4. Prosecution Closing Arguments

After the lunch recess, the jury returned. The judge read aloud and distributed a written copy of the jury instructions.

The Prosecution began its closing argument by showing an image of the bag Junglers used to cover torture victims’ heads. They named each testifying witness who had been forced into a bag like this during torture by Correa. They argued that the evidence presented proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Correa was guilty of all charges.

They started by reminding the jury of the charges: one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture against victims Yaya Darboe, Tansir Jasseh, Pierre Mendy, Pharing Sanyang, and Demba Dem.

The Prosecution then recapped their evidence supporting the conspiracy charge and explained how Correa met all four elements required for conviction.

For each victim, they argued that Correa could be found guilty of torture, aiding and abetting torture, and as a co-conspirator. The only exception was Mr. Mendy. Although Correa admitted to torturing him and there was evidence of co-conspirator liability, the Prosecution noted they had less direct evidence regarding how Correa aided and abetted that act, as Mr. Mendy had passed away in 2021 and could not testify.

The Prosecution walked the jury through the elements of torture for each of the remaining charges, citing evidence such as beatings with a stick, burning skin with melted plastic, and electrocution. Witnesses described Correa as “overzealous,” with some Junglers even attempting to restrain him, shouting, “Michael, stop!”

They also argued that Correa actively aided and abetted torture—transporting victims, placing bags on their heads, and gesturing for others to continue beatings. They emphasized his active involvement and co-conspirator role in extracting confessions.

Addressing the anticipated duress defense, the Prosecution reminded the jury that the burden is on the Defense to prove duress by a preponderance of the evidence. They walked through the three legal elements of duress and argued that merely living under a repressive regime did not excuse Correa from responsibility. They cited testimony suggesting Correa “relished” his role as a Jungler.

The Prosecution concluded by highlighting inconsistencies in Correa’s story, pointing out that he did not admit to torture initially, then later confessed in a way that minimized his culpability. They noted other Gambians—including Junglers and coup leaders—chose not to participate in torture. Correa, they argued, only fled Gambia after Jammeh lost power and accountability became possible. The Prosecution asserted that the U.S. cannot be a “safe haven” for torturers.

 5. Defense Closing Arguments

The Defense’s main argument was that Correa acted under duress—he could either “comply or die.” They cited witness statements that described Jammeh as ruling with an “iron fist,” instilling fear regardless of one’s rank or status.

They disagreed with the Prosecution’s characterization of the threats as vague. Instead, they portrayed Jammeh as a paranoid, brutal dictator, especially in the aftermath of the 2006 coup. The Defense emphasized that Correa and other Junglers feared for their lives and their families’ safety.

The Defense argued that Correa lacked the financial means to flee Gambia. Few reasonable or lawful alternatives existed in the authoritarian climate of 2006. They urged the jury to consider the conditions at that time, not from a present-day perspective. It would have been reasonable, they said, for Correa to believe he’d be tortured or killed if seen as disloyal.

The Defense concluded by reminding the jury that the burden of proof for a duress defense is lower than that of the government. They only needed to find that it was more likely than not that Correa acted under duress.

 6. Rebuttal

In rebuttal, the Prosecution challenged the argument that a general climate of fear amounted to an imminent risk of death or serious harm. They warned that accepting this logic would excuse all criminal acts committed under Jammeh’s rule. They pointed out that “who they [Gambians] feared were the Junglers”—including Correa.

They emphasized that it is the jury—not the stipulations—that decides whether Correa acted under duress. The Defense, they argued, could not cite a single direct threat to Correa or his family.

The burden to prove duress, they reminded the jury, lies with the Defense. The Prosecution argued that burden had not been met, noting Correa had the means and opportunity to flee to places like Senegal.

They concluded by urging the jury to listen carefully to Correa’s full statements. He never mentioned threats or fear—only following orders. Witnesses described him as eager, not reluctant. According to testimony, Correa needed to be restrained—not encouraged.

The Prosecution’s final point was simple: Gambians had choices. The Junglers had choices. And Correa had choices.

 

 Next Steps

Following closing arguments and rebuttal, the jury began deliberations around 3:30 PM and will resume tomorrow.

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Day 4: Survivors Name Correa in Brutal Torture Testimonies and Homeland Security Agent Takes the Stand

April 10th 2025

On the fourth day of trial, testimony was heard from Pharing Sanyang, Ebou Jarjue, Tamsir Jasseh, and Barton Garrison.

 

 1. Testimony of Pharing Sanyang

Day four of the trial, April 10, 2025, started with prosecution witness Pharing Sanyang. Sanyang joined the military before Jammeh’s regime and was working at the State House as the Commander of the Commandos in 2006, where he conducted rescue and weapons training. This sometimes included members of the Junglers in their capacity as members of the military.

On March 21, 2006, Sanyang learned of the coup when he met with Ndure Cham, then Chief of Staff of the armed forces and leader of the coup. Sanyang told Cham he was not interested in participating. However, he was arrested the next day and taken to Mile II, where he was beaten by the Junglers with batons, water pipes, and palm tree branches—as large as his hand, thick as his forearm, and over a meter long.

On March 26, 2006, Sanyang was taken to the NIA. On the way, Malick Jatta hit him on the head with his pistol. The scars from that attack still hurt him to this day. Upon arriving at the NIA, Jatta hit Sanyang on the jaw with a hammer, breaking his tooth.

After insisting he was not part of the coup in front of the NIA panel, Sanyang was taken to the “burial grounds” outside. There, Jatta stabbed him with a bayonet, put out cigarettes on his arms, stomped on him, and threw sand in his eyes while others beat him. Sanyang needed multiple operations on both eyes afterward and still has impaired vision. The Prosecution showed pictures displaying scars from these attacks.

Sanyang identified Correa as one of the people who beat him at the NIA. He testified that although Correa wore a mask, he recognized him by his gait, having trained him in the past. He saw Correa gesture to others, telling them to continue beating Sanyang and eventually kill him. He heard Correa say, “deal with him.” Sanyang described Correa’s demeanor as “very aggressive.”

Sanyang eventually wrote a false confession. In an effort to document his torture, he described wiping blood from his head and smearing it on the paper. Lamin Cham wrote another statement and forced Sanyang to sign it.

On April 6, 2006, Sanyang was once again brought to the NIA. When he refused to apologize for his role in the coup in front of a TV crew, he was electrocuted by Musa Jammeh and beaten. The panel realized they could not put a bleeding man on TV, so they instead recorded an audio confession.

Sanyang remained imprisoned from 2006 to 2015. He was found guilty of treason in 2007. While in Mile II, Sanyang saw Darboe, Bayo, Mendy, and Dem—all severely injured and in pain. After his release, he was arrested again. Following his subsequent release, he fled to Senegal.

Sanyang also revealed that President Jammeh had repeatedly asked him to assassinate journalist Deyda Hydara in 2004, but he refused each time. Khalifa Bajinka once asked him to join the Junglers and offered him a truck in exchange, but Sanyang declined, believing their work was illegal.

 2. Testimony of Ebou Jarjue

The Prosecution next called Ebou Jarjue, a relative of Musa Jammeh who served as a waiter at the State House from 2001 to 2008. At first, he was excited to work for a young new leader but quickly came to regret it, especially after realizing that employees at the State House were not free to resign.

During his time there, the Junglers frequented the State House, including Correa, whom he correctly identified in court. He described the atmosphere as tense, especially around the time of the March 2006 coup and in the weeks that followed. He recalled grilling food for the Junglers after they returned from conducting arrests. He said he felt unsafe in the State House due to the President’s paranoia and unpredictability.

Jarjue also described overhearing the President order Musa Jammeh to take Tamsir Jasseh to the “truth talk” room. In 2008, Jarjue was accused of attempting to poison President Jammeh and was arrested. He was first detained for over nine months and later imprisoned at Mile II for four years. Following his release, he escaped to Senegal, where he finally found safety.

 3. Testimony of Tamsir Jasseh

The third witness, Tamsir Jasseh, was born and raised in The Gambia and is also a U.S. citizen. He moved to the United States in 1984, completed several degrees, and served 10 years in the U.S. Navy. He returned to The Gambia in 1999 to assist with police reform as an advisor. He later became the Director General of Immigration from 2002 to 2005.

Jasseh described the political climate in The Gambia during that time as tense, with speech repressed and people unable to trust one another. Before the 2006 coup, he was arrested and held multiple times by the NIA for various reasons.

Though not involved in the March 2006 coup, Jasseh was acquainted with Ndure Cham and knew of his dissatisfaction with the regime. He helped Cham escape after the failed coup by driving him to the southern Gambia/Senegal border. Cham was not disguised and walked freely across the border.

Two days later, Junglers appeared at Jasseh’s home and took him to Mile II, placing him in Security Wing Five. At 2:00 a.m., they drove him to the NIA, where he was interrogated and forced to write a statement confessing to driving Cham. He was brought back again to sign it, and a third time to apologize to President Jammeh on TV.

The night after his televised statement, the Junglers brought him back again. This time, Correa placed a black plastic bag over Jasseh’s head and beat him. Jasseh identified Correa in court and described him as “overzealous,” saying Correa was “having fun, enjoying himself.” In the courtyard, Correa and others whipped him with banana branches, and Musa Jammeh broke a plastic chair over his head. Musa Jammeh held a phone to Jasseh’s mouth so President Jammeh could hear his screams and know that Jasseh wasn’t being treated differently despite his U.S. citizenship.

Jasseh was beaten again the next day, and Musa Jammeh put a gun in his mouth. During his time at Mile II, Jasseh saw other injured prisoners, including Mendy and Darboe. He was sentenced to 20 years for treason six months after his arrest, but was released in 2012 after Reverend Jesse Jackson advocated for him. He was immediately flown to the U.S., where he remained until Jammeh left power.

 4. Testimony of Barton Garrison

The last witness of the day was Special Agent Barton Garrison from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), who has been investigating Correa since August 2019. He received a tip from HSI agents in Senegal that Correa had been sending money from Denver to The Gambia and began surveillance.

In September 2019, Garrison located Correa and obtained a search warrant to arrest him on administrative immigration charges. During a search of Correa’s home, Garrison found a passport showing that Correa had last entered the U.S. on December 16, 2016, on a diplomatic visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The visa had since expired.

After Correa’s arrest, Garrison interviewed him. The Prosecution played audio recordings from this interview, marking the first time the jury heard Correa’s voice.

Correa described his early military career and his transition into the Junglers, initially referring to them as a “patrol team.” He mentioned attending a “jungle” training in Kanilai in 2004 to become a bodyguard, and that afterward, his job focused on patrolling the Gambia-Senegal border.

Correa said “everything changed” in 2006. At first, he claimed that after the coup, his only role was to arrest and transport suspects to the NIA and denied involvement in interrogations. When Garrison asked if he was a Jungler, Correa hesitated but eventually admitted it.

When asked why he hadn’t returned to The Gambia, Correa said he feared being jailed for “something that [he] didn’t do.” The Prosecution emphasized—and Garrison confirmed—that Correa’s fear only arose after President Jammeh lost power.

In the final excerpt from the interview, Garrison asked Correa if he had witnessed torture. Correa initially denied it but then stated that he was following orders and felt sorry. He eventually admitted to witnessing torture but maintained that he never participated.

The Prosecution began to play recordings from Correa’s later immigration hearing, but due to timing, postponed the remainder until court resumes next week.

Next Steps in the Trial

The trial will resume on Monday, April 14, 2025. The Prosecution will continue questioning Garrison and is expected to call an expert and an additional witness. The Defense may call one or two witnesses on Tuesday before closing arguments. The trial is expected to wrap up early next week.

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Day 3: Questioning of Yaya Darboe continues and Three New Witnesses Testify

April 9th 2025

On the third day of trial, testimony was heard from Yaya Darboe, Sainey Bayo, Special Agent Mathew Gifford, and Demba Dem.

 1. Testimony of Yaya Darboe

The day began with continued questioning of Yaya Darboe by the Defense. They highlighted that despite the violence and turbulence surrounding the 2006 coup, Darboe remained in the military and continued to receive promotions. Darboe agreed that the entire country existed in a constant state of fear, but emphasized that military members were especially vulnerable due to President Jammeh’s scrutiny over their loyalties.

Darboe outlined his role in the coup and the events of that day. He explained that he remained in the country after the failed coup out of concern for his family. He was arrested the same day and taken to Mile II Prison.

The Defense then questioned Darboe about his torture. They sought to confirm whether photos and videos of his torture were sent to President Jammeh. Darboe testified that the Junglers told him this was true, but he could not confirm it independently. He reaffirmed that Michael Correa, along with other Junglers, beat him and dripped melted plastic onto his skin. Darboe identified Correa because Correa had previously served under his command. When asked whether Correa was an obedient soldier who followed orders, Darboe said yes.

During redirect, the Prosecution asked Darboe whether members of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) were expected to follow illegal or unconstitutional orders, such as torture. Darboe said no. He also confirmed that he did not hear Jungler leader Musa Jammeh order Correa to melt plastic or use wire coils on him.

 

 2. Testimony of Sainey Bayo 

Next, the government called Sainey Bayo, who served as the Commanding Officer of two infantry battalions during the 2006 coup. Bayo confidently identified Correa in court, noting that they had worked in the same battalion before 2006.

Bayo was arrested in March 2006 and taken to Mile II Prison. Junglers later transported him to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters. After being interrogated, he was taken outside and tortured. He testified that the Junglers placed a plastic bag over his head to suffocate him and beat him while he lay handcuffed. As a result, he sustained permanent injuries to both his eye and one of his fingers.

While at the NIA, Bayo witnessed the beatings of Pierre Mendy and Wassa Camara. He later saw a bloodied Camara in a room with Malick Jatta, Sulayman Badjie, and Michael Correa, who was holding a stick or pipe.

During cross-examination, the Defense focused on the chain of command within the GAF and the Junglers, arguing that those closer to President Jammeh were at higher risk of execution. Bayo recalled that when Sulayman Badjie arrested him, Badjie cried, as he had trained under Bayo. Bayo told him to stop so others wouldn’t suspect sympathy. He testified that Badjie later refused to take part in his torture for that reason.

On redirect, Bayo noted that escape into Senegal was easy because the border was “porous.”

 3. Testimony of of Special Agent Mathew Gifford

Special Agent Mathew Gifford of Homeland Security Investigations took the stand next. While working at the U.S. Embassy in Senegal, he investigated Michael Correa and ultimately located him in the United States. Subpoenaed records from Western Union revealed Correa had been sending money to family members, which helped track his whereabouts. Gifford also testified about interviews conducted during the investigation.

He interviewed Pierre Mendy in 2020 for over two hours and admitted photographs showing Mendy’s scars into evidence.

Gifford presented photos of six individuals to several witnesses during his investigation—including one of Correa. Both Ebou Jarjue and Tamsir Jasseh successfully identified Correa in these photo lineups. Jarjue and Jasseh are expected to testify later in the trial.

 4. Testimony of Demba Dem

The final witness of the day was Demba Dem, a former Gambian National Assembly member appointed in 2002. Although he did not participate in the 2006 coup, he was arrested and detained at Mile II Prison.

Dem was transported from Mile II to the NIA approximately three times during his detention. During transport, he was handcuffed and beaten with fists and black batons by the Junglers. When he failed to give the desired answers during NIA interrogations, he was handed over to the Junglers for torture.

The Prosecution introduced a photo of the courtyard behind the NIA, which Dem identified as the “torture chamber” or “talk true room.” He testified that Michael Correa beat him with a stick while a plastic bag was tied over his head. A black calendar bag, similar to the one used during the torture, was admitted into evidence. He also said the Junglers melted plastic bags and dripped hot plastic on his skin.

Dem recounted how heavy sandbags were placed on his back, and hot metal was brought close to his face while he was cuffed. When he refused to sign a false confession, Ismaila Jammeh stabbed him in the shoulder with a bayonet. A photo of the resulting scar was shown in court. Dem was also hung upside down by his ankles and beaten, then electrocuted. A photo of the “garage” where this occurred was admitted into evidence.

He testified that he saw others being tortured, including Pierre Mendy, Yaya Darboe, and Tamsir Jasseh.

Dem was not formally charged with treason until a month after his arrest, and his trial did not begin for over a year. He was acquitted but was immediately rearrested by the Junglers. He was released five days later and fled to Senegal with his family. The NIA attempted to arrest him again in Senegal, prompting him to seek help from the UN. He was ultimately relocated to the Netherlands, where he now resides as a citizen.

When asked how the experience affects him today, Dem became emotional and struggled to respond. The Prosecution then asked if he had been diagnosed with PTSD, which he confirmed.

During cross-examination, the Defense asked why the Junglers re-arrested him after his acquittal. Dem testified that the Junglers said they could not release him without the President’s permission. The Defense also pointed out that no institution—neither the National Assembly, police, nor any other government body—intervened when Dem was arrested.

Next Steps in the Trial

The day ended with a discussion between the Prosecution, Defense, and the Judge about the trial timeline. The Prosecution is expected to call its final witnesses on Monday, April 14, 2025. The trial will conclude with possible Defense witnesses and closing arguments from both sides. Jury deliberation will follow shortly after.

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Day 2: Opening Statements and Three Witnesses Testify

April 8th 2025

On day two, April 8, 2025 of Michael Correa’s criminal trial in the United States, the government and defense counsel delivered opening statements to the jury, outlining their respective theories of the case and highlighting key pieces of evidence they intend to introduce during the trial to prove their cases. The government’s opening statement explained the trial is focused on acts of torture committed by Junglers following the failed 2006 coup at the instruction of President Jammeh. It further stated, even though Michael Correa fled the Gambia to start a new life, “The victims have not forgotten his [Michael Correa’s] cruelty. They have not forgotten him.” “The victims flew halfway across the world to explain to the jury what they endured.” The government emphasized the Junglers had choices, and Michael Correa chose to torture the victims.  The government emphasized the Junglers had choices, and Michael Correa chose to torture the victims. 

In contrast, the defense stated Michael Correa had no choice as a mere private at the very bottom of the security forces’ hierarchy. If Correa did not comply, he would face imprisonment, torture, and possibly death for being perceived as disloyal to President Jammeh. The defense stated Correa is not guilty because he was under duress at the time the alleged torturing occurred, he was coerced, and he was not high enough in ranking to be part of a conspiracy to torture the victims.

After opening statements, the government proceeded with its case, calling a total of three witnesses before the court recessed for the day. The first witness is an expert who testified on The Gambia’s history and political climate surrounding the 2006 failed coup. The second and third witnesses, Alieu Jobe and Yaya Darboe, testified that they were tortured by Junglers and interrogated by a panel of officials at the NIA headquarters  until they forcibly confessed to participating in the 2006 coup attempt. Both witnesses identified Michael Correa as one of the Junglers who tortured them. Mr. Darboe stated Michael Correa was one of the people that beat him: “I saw Michael Correa standing over me with a wire coil.” He stated Michael Correa participated more than others in the torture. Mr. Darboe described Michael Correa as appearing aggressive, stating “I couldn’t believe it was the Michael Correa I knew before.”

The government admitted approximately 28 exhibits into evidence. The exhibits included maps of the region, photos of NIA headquarters, photos of Mile 2 Prison, and photos of of scarring Yaya Darboe sustained from torture. 

Prosecution opening statement: 

The government’s opening statement explained that the trial focuses on allegations of torture following the failed coup d’état on 21 March, 2006, carried out at the instruction of then President Yahya Jammeh to punish and extract forced confessions from those perceived to be involved in the failed coup. The government emphasized that, despite an atmosphere of fear and violence under the rule of Yahya Jammeh, “The Junglers had choices, Michael Correa had choices.” Even though Michael Correa fled the Gambia to start a new life, “The victims have not forgotten his [Michael Correa’s] cruelty. They have not forgotten him.” “The victims flew halfway across the world to explain to the jury what they endured.”

Defense opening statement: 

In contrast, the Defense Counsel’s opening statement described Michael Correa as a mere private in the security forces, someone who was at the very bottom of an extensive hierarchy. Counsel stated there can be no conspiracy without an agreement, and carrying out orders from a superior is not an agreement. Further, Counsel claimed Correa had no choice in carrying out the orders without risking being accused of disloyalty and facing arrest, torture, and death. On a salary of ten dollars a month, Correa had no realistic avenues of escape into Senegal or elsewhere. Thus, the defense stated Correa is not guilty because he was under duress at the time the alleged tortures occurred, he was coerced, and he was not in a position to enter an agreement due to his low ranking position. 

 

Government’s Witness Testimony: 

After opening statements, the government proceeded with its case, calling a total of three witnesses and introducing approximately 28 exhibits into evidence before the court recessed for the day. 

   1. Testimony of Professor Maggie Dwyer:

The first witness, Professor Maggie Dwyer, testified as an expert on the history of The Gambia, the
political climate, and the structure of the country’s security forces. Professor Dwyer described how
President Yahya Jammeh, having taken power in a coup and suppressed another coup just three
months into his rule, became deeply concerned with disloyalty and perceived threats to his power.
As a result, Jammeh’s reign was marked by brutal and swift repression of those perceived to
threaten his authority, as well as a pattern of attempted coups and violent crackdowns.

    2. Testimony of Alieu Jobe:

The government’s second witness, Alieu Jobe, a chartered accountant from The Gambia, testified that he was tortured by the Junglers, including Michael Correa, following the 2006 coup attempt. Jobe worked as an accountant in the armed forces from 1996 to 1999. After studying abroad, he returned to The Gambia and was promoted to Accountant General in 2005. Ndure Cham, the Chief of Defense and principal organizer of the 2006 attempted coup, was his grandfather.

Jobe testified that around 2005, Cham approached him with a plan to stage a coup and offered him a position in the new government. Jobe refused the offer, believing that the appropriate response was to seek legitimate reform. When Jobe learned that the coup attempt had leaked, he sent Cham money at his request so he could flee to Senegal.

On the afternoon of March 23, Jobe was arrested by Jammeh’s forces and transported to Mile 2 Prison, where he was placed in solitary confinement. Late that night, a group of Junglers transported him to the NIA headquarters. After being interrogated by a panel at the NIA, he asked for a lawyer but was denied. Over the next three nights, Jobe was repeatedly taken to the NIA for questioning by the panel and tortured. The panel threatened to imprison him for life unless he confessed to participating in the coup. Jobe testified that he was interrogated by the panel, then beaten and tortured by the Junglers until he gave a written confession. He stated that he recognized several of the Junglers, including Michael Correa. During the beatings, Jobe was struck repeatedly with sticks, and a black plastic bag was placed over his head to restrict his breathing.

After giving the confession, Jobe was tried and convicted on various charges of treason. He was imprisoned for 9 years and 4 months before being released following a pardon from President Jammeh in 2015.

    3. Testimony of Yaya Darboe:

The government’s third witness, Yaya Darboe, is a Gambian who joined the Gambia Armed Forces as an officer cadet in 1995 and rose through the ranks. He described the political environment in 2006 as “bad,” with no rule of law. When he learned about the planned coup, he agreed to support it and provide soldiers from the barracks where he was stationed. Shortly after the coup failed, he was arrested and taken to Mile 2 Prison. He saw many others who had also been arrested, some of whom were brought to the prison with open wounds and visible injuries.

Around midnight, he was transported by Junglers to NIA headquarters. Before being presented to a panel, the Junglers told him he had to cooperate “to save your skin from the torture.” He recognized one of them as Michael Correa, whom he knew through the army and saw almost daily in 2004. He was subjected to repeated cycles of interrogation by the panel followed by beatings and torture by the Junglers. In total, he was taken from Mile 2 to the NIA for questioning and torture on four separate occasions.

Mr. Darboe described different “approaches” to the torture. In one area, referred to as the “burial area,” the Junglers placed a cement block on him and sat on it. They put out lit cigarettes on his body, insulted him, and slapped him. Sometimes, they used sticks, wire coils, and whips to beat him. He testified that Michael Correa was one of the people who beat him, stating: “I saw Michael Correa standing over me with a wire coil.” During a second interrogation, he was struck in the eye with an object and lost consciousness. He stated, “When I came to consciousness, I was being beaten continuously.” He also testified that Correa tried to put a black plastic bag over his head, but another Jungler stopped him because his eye was bleeding so badly. On the third night, he was beaten in a dark hallway and could not see his attackers. He pretended to be unconscious so the Junglers would drag him outside. Darboe saw several Junglers leaving the hallway, including Michael Correa. He further testified that Correa melted a plastic bag so the hot plastic would drip onto his skin. He was then placed in a sack, hoisted up, and dropped onto the ground.

Mr. Darboe stated that while some Junglers refused to participate in the torture, others were more involved. He identified Michael Correa as one of those who participated the most, describing him as particularly aggressive: “I couldn’t believe it was the Michael Correa I knew before.”

He testified that he was tortured until he gave a forced confession admitting involvement in the attempted coup. That confession was used in his conviction on various counts of treason. He was sentenced to life in prison and served over nine years before being pardoned by President Jammeh in July 2015. After his release, he fled to Senegal via an unofficial border crossing near Farafenni. He returned to The Gambia in January 2017.

Trial will resume tomorrow at 8:00AM, beginning with Correa’s cross examination of Yaya Darboe. The government will continue to call witnesses in presenting its case. 

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Day 1: What to Expect During Trial

April 7th 2025

Today, April 7, 2025, marks the first day of the United States’ prosecution against alleged Jungler, Michael Sang Correa. The trial is in Denver, Colorado, where Correa was arrested. 

During the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh, the Junglers, including Correa, acted as his personal guards and death squad, killing and torturing many people. Correa is being prosecuted under the U.S. Torture Act for the crimes he allegedly committed as part of that group. The U.S. Torture Act is one of the few U.S. laws that applies to actions that occurred outside of the United States. Under the Act, “torture” is defined as an act (1) committed by a person acting either with or under the pretext of legal authority (2) with the intent to inflict (3) severe physical or mental pain or suffering on another person (4) who is in their custody or physical control.

Correa has been charged with seven counts. The first count against Correa is conspiracy to commit torture, which means Correa worked with others to inflict severe pain on their victims. The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh counts are for torture and helping others commit torture – one for each of the six victims included in this case.

Today, U.S. government prosecutors requested to dismiss the fifth count because the victim could not be present at trial. The Court granted the request. The Court then began jury selection. Through this process, the prosecution and the defense select twelve jurors and a few alternate jurors. Any U.S. citizen over the age of eighteen can serve as a juror, and jurors for this trial will be selected from the local area. If the jury determines that Correa committed these crimes “beyond a reasonable doubt,” they will find him guilty. The jury’s decision to convict must be unanimous, and they may find Correa guilty on all, some, or none of the six remaining charges. 

This is a critical trial for truth processes in The Gambia and human rights advocacy in the United States. The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission recommended that Jammeh and over sixty associates be held accountable for their atrocities. Correa is the third member of Jammeh’s regime to be prosecuted. In addition, Correa’s trial is only the third of its kind under the U.S. Torture Act, which is an example of universal jurisdiction. Universal jurisdiction is an international legal tool that allows countries to prosecute certain crimes that occur outside their borders. Prosecuting Correa under the U.S. Torture Act recognizes that torture is a crime against all people, regardless of their nationality.

The trial is expected to last two weeks and end on April 18, 2025. The prosecution and the defense will present evidence at the trial, including documents and witness testimony. The prosecution may call on some of the victims of Correa’s alleged torture to testify. After the evidence is presented, the jury will deliberate and come to a decision.