Testifying at the TRRC, Alieu Lowe, a businessman said Ndure Cham, the 2006 coup mastermind, had informed him of the coup attempt when he, Cham asked him to meet him in Gunjur, wanting to leave. After the duo left for Brikama, where Lowe said he left Cham, he was later called to meet him, Cham, at Farato at 2am.
“Ndure Cham gave me his mobile and urged me to listen to what that individual was saying. He then told me at 5am I could go back but that I should not explain to anyone what was happening”. Lowe said when he got home he explained to his uncle and that it was not long after that discussion, they heard that soldiers were being arrested.
“While I was at work, Ndure Cham called me to tell me that he was at the border but that nothing will happen to me and that I should stay”. He said at 3am, the NIA went to his house, arrested and beat him severely before putting him in a pickup, and identified the NIA Operatives Lamin Cham and Abdoulie Sowe as his arresters and torturers before taking him to the NIA Headquarters.
Mr. Lowe revealed to the Commission that while at the NIA he was tortured with pipes and that those that tortured him wore mask and dressed in their usual black attire.
"I was held at the NIA for 3 days without access to my family." On whether he was charged with an offence, he said he was told he helped Ndure Cham escape.
Bunja Darboe, Wassa Camara, Abdoukarim, Nying, Mustapha Lowe, Hmadi Sowe, Ousman Sowe Alieu Jobe amongst others were involved in the same case.
On the injuries of some of detainees that were tortured, he said Wassa Camara had serious injuries on his head, Bunja Darboe, Hon. Demba Dem, Pierre Mendy, Ebou Lowe, Alieu Ceesay, Malafi Corr and Alpha Bah were all killed. He disclosed that he was held at Mile2 for 5 years but later decided to hire a lawyer after they denied him going to court.
Mr. Lowe said he was convicted for 20 years but he served 9 years, 6 months and was released on presidential pardon.