A source who is familiar with the matter and wished to speak to The Point on the condition of anonymity has confirmed the development, saying: “Thiam was pardoned based on medical condition. I can tell you that he has been operated on several times and his condition is getting worse day by day. Therefore, based on this reason, he was recommended to be pardoned but not for any other thing. In fact, he has even been deported to Senegal.”
Pap Ibrahim Khalilulaye Thiam, together with Bamba Banja, former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries who was sentenced for corrupt practice, were part of the 37 inmates pardoned by President Barrow on 19 January 2024 based on Section 82 of the 1997 Constitution.
Siaka Sonko, the country’s minister of Interior who was contacted for comments, said: “Pap Ibrahim Khalilulaye Thiam was pardoned based on medical reasons. It’s not like the President pardons people just like that. The Ministry of Interior works with The Gambia Prison Service (GPS) on the issue of pardon. The Interior Ministry and the GPS work together to look at the prisoners that should be pardoned and then advise and recommend based on the reason why those prisoners need to be pardoned by the President.”
“In fact, Thiam is currently very sick and anything could happen to him at the prison. So based on this reason, he was recommended for pardon. Again, we also need to understand that after our recommendations, there is another independent panel that also goes over our recommendations and look at the list of prisoners that are recommended to be pardoned. That panel comprises officials from the Ministry of Justice and others. They have a list of all prisoners in the country. They will also look at the list and see the reason why those prisoners need to be pardoned. That panel has the final say,” he claimed.
“I cannot conclude without saying that the commission of murder in the case was international, cold blooded and brutal and very uncommon in this society. A strong message must therefore be sent to curb such cold blooded acts that go against the grain of society,” Justice Z. Jawara, said while delivering her judgement in 2019.
