By Aisha Tamba
Foday Barry, a former head of investigations at the NIA who was adversely referenced by many witnesses at the ongoing TRRC hearings, has denied all allegations of being involved in torture and other gruesome atrocities.
Barry denied taking part in the arrest and torture of dozens of detainees including Batch Samba Jallow, Omar Joof Dampha, Omar Jatta and PPP demonstrators.
Appearing at the Truth Commission yesterday, the renowned former police detective said he had never seen Batch Samba Jallow until his testimony at the TRRC and refuted his torture claims as “all lies”.
He confirmed being in charge of investigations at the NIA following the arrest of Gambian dissidents from Liberia including Ballo Kanteh who attacked the Farafenni barracks and killed a number of soldiers in 1996.
“Following the attack, two people were arrested including Ballo but I have neither participated in his torture, nor seen anyone torturing him,” Mr Barry testified.
He also denied allegations by Kanteh that the NIA tortures cut off his nipple while coercing him into confession.
“It was a lie. In fact, this act was not done to him in The Gambia but Liberia. I personally travelled to Liberia and Ivory Coast to gather evidence on them [Ballo and others] and that was where I came to understand that Ballo Kanteh and his men were Charles Taylor’s bodyguards. According to my informant, these people were once ambushed and one Momodou Musukabba Cessay was buried alive and Ballo Kanteh too was captured and that was where he was tortured and his nipple cut off,” he said.
He also denied torturing Ebrima Barrow, Lalo Jaiteh and Omar Darboe.
Lead counsel Essa Faal put it to him that it cannot be a coincidence that all these people would falsely testify against him as being a participant in their torture.
Mr Barry dismissed any knowledge of the existence of the notorious Bambadinka torture chamber at the NIA. However, Counsel Faal contended that that was “quite strange” since the existence of Bambadinka was an open secret.
“I don’t know about Bambadinka and I am not aware of it,” Mr Barry emphasised.
The witness also confirmed state witnesses in the trial of General Tamba, Ebrima Marenah and Rui Jabbie Gassama were made to falsely testify against him with each receiving US$5,000.
He went on say that these monies were handed over to the false witness through former NDEA boss Benedict Jammeh and solicitor general Pa Harry Jammeh.
Concluding, Mr Barry said he was glad to have testified to set the record straight as the allegations tarnished his image.
“My name has been said a lot at the TRRC. Foday Barry this, Foday Barry that. Even my son sometimes asks me, ‘What are these people saying?’ So, I am glad to be here today to have the opportunity to clarify and clear my name,” Mr Barry said.
