Mafugie Sonko, was a private soldier who drove Lt Abdoulie (Dot) Faal and Basiru Barrow to Yundum Barracks the night they were arrested, to be executed after being accused of staging an abortive coup in November 11 1994.
Sonko, the 26th witness before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission on Tuesday, was implicated in the same coup.
He told the commission investigating former president Yahya Jammeh’s alleged catalogue of abuses that he was jailed for nine years without a single court appearance but will not harbour any grudge against those who denied him freedom between 1994 and 2003.
Sonko, the TRRC’s 26th witness, was among the batch of soldiers who were later executed in connection to the coup to overthrow former President Yahya Jammeh and his allies who had seized power in The Gambia four months earlier.
According to various testimonies to the commission, the counter coup was conceived by several soldiers who were disgusted at the deteriorating human rights situation and corruption in the country under the new military government.
But the junta leaders got wind of the planned coup and moved in on the suspects, some of them lined up and executed.
Sonko considered himself lucky to be spared execution but was taken to Mile 2 where he was locked up for almost a decade.
However, preaching understanding and forgiveness Sonko told the commission that his ordeal was ordained by none other than Allah and as a believer he was forgiving his torturers and all those who controbiuted to his detention.
“What happened has happened and we must forgive and move on… I have to forgive and accept that all of us are the same people” Sonko said.
He was eventually released in 2003 and had to struggle to survive through menial jobs.
Sonko claimed that although his salary was paid, he was later dismissed from the army without following proper procedure and without his benefits.