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Ansumana Jammeh and Co indicted on economic crime charges

May 24, 2016, 2:46 PM | Article By: Halimatou Ceesay

The former Gambia Ambassador to Qatar, Ansumana Jammeh, and two others were yesterday indicted on an economic crime charge before Justice E.O. Dada of the Banjul High Court.

The accused persons are Ansumana Jammeh, Hassan Badjie and Sanna Bah.

They were indicted on six counts ranging from official corruption, abuse of office, receiving property to show favour, conspiracy and economic crime.

When the case was called, DPP Barkun informed the court that they had filed the bill of indictment, and applied for it to be read to the accused persons.

Defence counsel L.S. Camara said they were not aware of the bill of indictment, and they were not served with it.

It was then served on the defence in court, and counsel L.S. Camara then applied for an adjournment to allow the defence go through it and consult with their clients. DPP did not object to the application.

The case was then adjourned until 9 June at 11 a.m., for plea-taking.

According to the bill of indictment on count one Ansumana Jammeh, between 14June 2010 and 5 January 2011, in Banjul and other diverse places, being employed in the public service as Gambian Ambassador to Qatar, and in the discharge of his official duties, corruptly and dishonestly received the amount of one million, five hundred and fifty-five thousand and sixty five dollars (USD 1, 555, 065.00), the equivalent of forty-five million, five hundred and fifteen thousand, nine hundred and seven dalasi (45, 515, 907.00) from CONAPRO DENA BMS SARL, as incentive for procuring a contract for the building of Gambia Food and Feed Mill project for the Government of The Gambia.

Count two stated that Ansumana Jammeh, between 14 June 2010 and 5 January 2011, in Banjul and diverse places, being employed in the public service as Gambian Ambassador to Qatar, and in the discharge of his official duties, unlawfully received the amount of one million, five hundred and fifty-five thousand and sixty five dollars (USD 1, 555, 065.00) the equivalent of forty-five million, five hundred and fifteen thousand, nine hundred and seven dalasi (45, 515, 907.00) from one Mr Saoud Gandour, in order to confer benefit or favour in a contract between The Gambia Government and CONAPRO DENA BMS SARL Company.

Count three stated that Ansumana Jammeh, between 14 June 2010 and 5 January 2011, in Banjul and other diverse places, being employed in the public service as Gambian Ambassador to Qatar, and in abuse of the authority of his office, arbitrarily received the amount of one million, five hundred and fifty-five thousand and sixty-five dollars (USD 1, 555, 065.00), the equivalent of forty-five million, five hundred and fifteen thousand, nine hundred and seven dalasi (45, 515, 907.00) from CONAPRO DENA BMS SARL of Qatar for his personal gain.

Count four stated that Ansumana Jammeh and Hassan Badjie, between the periods of 2010 to 2012 in Banjul and diverse places, conspired to unlawfully receive for personal use one million, five hundred and fifty-five thousand and sixty-five dollars (USD 1, 555, 065.00), the equivalent of forty five million, five hundred and fifteen thousand, nine hundred and seven dalasi (45, 515, 907.00) from CONAPRO DENA BMS SARL, as an incentive for procuring a contract for the building of a Gambia Food and Feed Mill project for the Government of The Gambia.

Count five stated that Ansumana Jammeh, between 14 June 2010 and 5 January 2011 in Banjul and other diverse places, being employed in the public service as Gambian Ambassador to Qatar, and in the discharge of his official duties, willfully and unlawfully facilitated the procurement of a contract with CONAPRO DENA BMS SARL, which caused economic loss to the Government of The Gambia in the sum of seven million dollar, which is equivalent of two hundred and five million, and one hundred thousand (205, 100, 000).

Count six stated that Sanna Bah and Hassan Badjie, between the months of June 2010 and February 2011, in Banjul, acted in collaboration with Ansumana Jammeh, the former Gambian Ambassador to Qatar, to willfully and recklessly caused economic loss to the Government of The Gambia, in the sum of seven million US dollars, the equivalent of two hundred and five million, one hundred thousand, being money expended for a contract between the Government of The Gambiaand CONAPRO DENA BMS SARL, which act was detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.