As
investigation into the diplomatic passports scandal deepens, latest revelations
have led to the arrest of 20 suspects with 289 diplomatic passport readable
machines still unaccounted for.
Ebrima
Sankareh, government spokesperson, made this remarks while giving an update on
the latest investigation by police during an interview with the West Coast
Radio morning coffee breakfast show.
“20
people have been arrested in connection with the diplomatic passports scandal”.
Sankareh
was however, quick to add that all the arrested suspects have been granted bail
and are cooperating with the investigating panel.
Some
of those arrested, he explained, are working at the Office of the President,
Foreign Affairs Ministry, Brikama Area Council, Gambia Immigration Department
and businessmen among others. However, he hinted that the figure might even
increase.
He
added: “The panel investigating the matter has also provided some very
interesting figures about the entire passport saga. Investigation also reveals
that from 2003 to 2014 a total of 15, 996 diplomatic passports were supplied by
the printing company ‘De La Rue’ to the government of The Gambia.”
According
to him, out of 15, 996 diplomatic passports, 12, 496 diplomatic passports were
deposited at the Central Bank of The Gambia.
During
investigation, he went on, it was discovered that 400 passports were issued
before handing over the stock to the Central Bank of The Gambia.
“So
the Central Bank also issued 2000 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the
same period leaving the remaining balance of 10, 496 still in the vault at the
Central Bank.”
Government
spokesman further indicated that it was also discovered that a stock of 3100
passports were received by the Gambia Immigration Department from ‘De La Rue’
and handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but were never delivered to
the Central Bank.
Records
from the Immigration Department established that 138 books were issued from the
stock, adding that 2650 were discovered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
23 others recovered from suspects.
Accordingly,
the panel found out that 289 machine-readable diplomatic passports still remain
unaccounted for.
The
investigating panel has also contacted Interpol to write to their counterparts
and to revoke the diplomatic passports issued to some investors, who acquired
the diplomatic passports.
“In
2008, there were some German investors, who were able to maneouver and were
issued with diplomatic passports and they paid 10, 000 euros.”
This
above figure, he added, is among the highest that the investigation panel has
revealed in which people got the passports, while others range from D175, 000,
D250, 000 and then D35, 000 to D40, 000.
“The
investigation is on-going and then the witnesses are cooperating with the
police and that is the beauty of it.” He divulged.
Read Other Articles In Article (Archive)
