Swiss authorities are few months close to prosecuting a former Gambian minister. Ousman Sonko, the longest Interior Minister in Yahya Jammeh’s government, has had his asylum application denied in Sweden. Sonko filed another asylum in Switzerland where rights group Trial International filed a criminal complaint against him.
Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General on Monday expressed its readiness to investigate criminal complaints against Sonko who has been in custody in Swiss city of Bern since last month. He could face crimes against humanity.
The Geneva-based Trial International accused Sonko of committing serious assault, coercion and false imprisonment. Right groups are convinced that Yahya Jammeh’s former minister’s hands are dirty, and must not go unpunished for his crimes. Sonko’s prosecution will signal to ousted President Jammeh and his criminal gang that the long arm of justice will catch up with them wherever they are.
In a statement, Swiss Attorney General’s Office does not rule out suspicion of crimes against humanity. Investigations geared towards establishing whether Sonko could face be charged with crimes against humanity will take three months.
Ousman Sonko was a former presidential guard who became interior minister between 2006 and 2016. He was fired in September last year after he had fled the country.
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Gambia Govt. should make an extradition request. We need him to go through Gambian courts and answer some questions (while enjoying his boss’s the 7-Star Hotel)