As
investigation into the diplomatic passports saga continues, police have
discovered 42 passports from some suspects that were in police custody.
The
42 passports that were discovered from some of the suspects are part of the 289
passports that were uncounted for.
Ebrima
Sankareh, the government spokesperson who was speaking during an interview with
West Coast Radio has given an update on the recent diplomatic passports saga
that grips the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He
said: “Based on the figures that were provided by the police; I happened to see
all the documents and correspondences. Therefore, out of the 289 passports that
were uncounted for; 247 of them have now been nullified,cancelled and they have
been revoked.”
Those
passports, he added,are no longer valid and that Interpol has issued a red
notice about those 247 passports out of 289. “Now the questions are what
happened to the remaining 42 passports. The 42 remaining passports have now
been accounted for, and luckily no one has ever used them.”
He
added that they were found in the custody of some of the arrested suspects and
probably they were going to use it to what they normally do. So those are
passports that were never used.
He
revealed that there was a letter dispatched from the Office of the Inspector
General of Police to State House, updating them on the circumstances. He said
in the letter,one would realise that all these passports with their serial
numbers were documented; sent to Interpol to make sure that they are revoked,
cancelled and nullified.
He
thanked Gambians for the interest they have shown in the passports saga, saying
it’s their national interest and that throughout the exercise, “Gambians have
been very worried about the situation and it’s good to actually tell them what
the government has done and that’s what democracy is all about.”
He
said some people were apprehended in Germany and their passports have been
revoked and that the investigation into the saga is almost at the closing end.
He added the report of the investigation will be developed and will be sent to
the Attorney General Chamber for adviceon prosecution.
The
20 suspects that have been arrested, Mr. Sankereh said, have been very
cooperative and the 42 passports were recovered from them; and “I’m sure if you
recover 42 passports that were obtained illegally, certainly those person would
be cooperating and must have provide tangible and solid evidences that might be
useful to prosecutors in a potential future case.
