The trial of Michael Sang Correa, an alleged member of The Gambia’s notorious “Junglers” death squad, is scheduled to start on April 7, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Correa faces multiple charges, including six counts of torture and one count of conspiracy to commit torture, for acts committed during the rule of former President Yahya Jammeh.
This case marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time a non-U.S. citizen will be tried in a U.S. federal court under the Extraterritorial Torture Act. This law allows the prosecution of individuals found in the United States for torture committed abroad.
According to the indictment, Correa and other members of the Junglers subjected suspected coup plotters to severe torture following an attempted coup against Jammeh in 2006. The victims were allegedly beaten, suffocated with plastic bags, and electrocuted.
The case has gained international attention from human rights groups, who have long called for accountability for crimes committed under Jammeh’s regime. Several organizations played a role in advocating for Correa’s prosecution, and legal representatives are working on behalf of his alleged victims.
Originally scheduled for September 2024, the trial will take place from April 7 to 18, 2025, at the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse in Denver.
