A former APRC lawmaker, Demba Dem, has said that Brigadier General Alagie Martin and his men “beat them while drunk at the National Intelligent Agency (NIA) in 2006”.

The former lawmaker was testifying via Skype to the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) on Monday.

“We were beaten by Alagie Martin and his group while they were drunk,” he told the Commission.

According to him, Alagie Martin and his men drank a locally made alcohol called “Sumsum.”

Mr Dem said he was escorted to the NIA office and surrounded by a group of officers who encircled him while he was in handcuff.

He said: “when I arrive I was sitting in the middle of those investigators I was still in handcuff and I was given a chair and a small radio was put under my mouth.”

Alagie Martin is a top General in the Gambia Armed Forces and a former member of Jammeh’s security team. He has been accused of gross human rights violations including torture during the Jammeh dictatorship. Last week he testified before the Truth Commission and denied most of the allegations levelled against him. He said it was “the status quo to routinely beat up detainees to get them comply during interrogations”.

Meanwhile it has been reported on local newspapers that Brigadier General Alagie Martin has been sent on administrative leave while the TRRC investigation is ongoing.

He was on leave prior to his appearance before the Truth Commission.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba