Former Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) Managing Director Edward Graham has walked out of prison a free man, after he was pardoned by President Yahya Jammeh in exercise of his prerogative of mercy yesterday.
A statement from the presidency last evening said the decision was in response to a very emotional plea for clemency made by Edward Graham’s 86-year-old mother.
According to the statement, Graham will therefore be immediately released from prison.
When contacted yesterday evening, Graham told The Point: “I am grateful to the President and thank him for his intervention in my case.”
Graham was on 15th February 2012 sentenced to a one-year mandatory prison term with hard labour, following his conviction for economic crimes by the high court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Nkea.
He was also ordered by the court to pay the state D73,000 within three weeks, failing which he will spend another one year in jail.
Graham was accused by the state of causing the loss of D73,000 to the Home Finance Company, a subsidiary of the SSHFC.