Swiss court jails Gambian ex-minister for crimes against humanity

Bellinzona, Switzerland – AFP

Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced Gambian ex-interior minister Ousman Sonko to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity committed under the regime of former dictator Yahya Jammeh.

Sonko, 55, is the highest-ranking official ever convicted in Europe under universal jurisdiction for the most serious crimes.

He was convicted of a string of offences committed between 2000 and 2016.

“The Criminal Chamber finds Ousman Sonko guilty of multiple counts of intentional homicide, multiple counts of torture and false imprisonment, each as a crime against humanity,” a court statement said.

“Sonko committed these crimes… as part of a systematic attack against the civilian population.

“The Criminal Chamber sentences Ousman Sonko to a prison term of 20 years.”

He will also be expelled from Switzerland for 12 years once the sentence has been served, and must also pay compensation to the civil claimants “for the non-material pain and suffering they sustained”, the court said.

State prosecutor Sabrina Beyeler said they were “very satisfied” with the verdict.

Sonko’s lawyer Philippe Currat said his client would “probably” exercise his right to appeal.

– Universal jurisdiction –

Sonko was tried under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows countries to prosecute alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide regardless of where they were committed.

The NGO Trial International — which filed the complaint leading to Sonko’s arrest — said the conviction was “historic”, while Human Rights Watch called it “monumental”.

Trial’s executive director Philip Grant said the verdict “brings justice to the victims of these heinous crimes, but also sends a strong signal to high-ranking perpetrators around the world: justice can catch up with you”.

Sonko has been in Swiss custody since his arrest in January 2017 after applying for asylum following his sacking from the West African nation’s government.

His time already served in custody will be taken into account in his sentence.

“The conviction of Ousman Sonko, one of the pillars of Yahya Jammeh’s brutal regime, is a major step on the long road to justice for Jammeh’s victims,” said lawyer Reed Brody, a member of the International Commission of Jurists.

Brody works with Jammeh’s victims and followed the court case in Bellinzona.

“We haven’t really had time to speak but I expect that he’s disappointed,” said his daughter Olimatou Sonko.

Fatoumatta Sandeng Darboe, the daughter of Solo Sandeng who was tortured and killed, said: “We are actually happy that the responsibility of Ousman Sonko in all of what has happened in The Gambia… is put out there.”

Cherno Marenah, The Gambia’s deputy permanent representative in Geneva, said: “We are quite satisfied that due process was followed and that at the end of the day, justice has been served.”