The former Gambian Ambassador to Qatar, Ansumana Jammeh, and two others yesterday pleaded guilty to charges of economic crime and official corruption, before Justice E.O. Dada of the High Court in Banjul.
The accused persons, Ansumana Jammeh, Hassan Badjie and Sanna Bah were indicted on six counts ranging from official corruption, abuse of office, receiving property to show favour, to conspiracy and economic crime.
When the case was called, DPP S.H. Barkun appeared for the state while counsel L.S. Camara and two other counsel appeared for the accused persons.
The charges were read to the accused persons in court, and they pleaded guilty to all the charges.
The DPP then said that in view of the plea of guilty entered for the accused persons, the prosecution intended to summarise the facts of the case and put it to the accused persons.
“I would like to take a short date to state the facts,” he said.
In response, counsel L.S. Camara said: “We are mindful to make an application for bail. The accused are already on bail and have been on bail since 16 April 2016. The conditions of bail are in compliance with section 8 of the Economic Crime Acts and have submitted enough bonds.
“The accused did not pose a flight risk and since they have pleaded guilty to the charges, shows that investigations in this case have since concluded. We crave the indulgence of the court for the accused to proceed on the bail on its terms and conditions.”
The trial judge granted the application and extended the bail of the accused persons pending the outcome of the sentencing.
The case continues on Monday 13 June 2016, at 9 a.m.
According to the bill of indictment on count one, Ansumana Jammeh, between 14th June 2010 and 5th 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 dalasis (D45,515,907.00) 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 14th June 2010 and 5th 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 (USD1,555,065.00), the equivalent of forty-five million, five hundred and fifteen thousand, nine hundred and seven dalasis (D45,515,907.00) 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 14th June 2010 and 5th 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 dalasis (D45, 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 and 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 dalasis (D45,515,907.00) 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, wilfully 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 dollars, which is equivalent to two hundred and five million and one hundred thousand dalasis (D205,100,000).
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 wilfully and recklessly cause 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 dalasis, being money expended for a contract between the Government of The Gambia and CONAPRO DENA BMS SARL, which act was detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.
