10/07/2025
Good morning, Gambia!
Do you remember the Central Bank scandal? Due to deficiencies in the investigation, the Attorney Generalβs Chambers has decided not to pursue the case in court.
Below is the letter written by the Director of Public Prosecutions, A.M. Yusuf, to the Inspector General of Police:
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1. ο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏReference is invited to the above mentioned case file sent to this office for legal advice.
2. ο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏThe facts of the case reveal that on the 24th of January 2025, one Lamin Marong (the suspect), one Lamin Darboe and one Nfamara Njie were intercepted by the joint security task force at the Jarra Jenoi check point whilst on their way to their village for an annual "Gamo". A search was conducted on their persons and their vehicle in which an amount of fifty-seven thousand, eight hundred dollars ($57, 800.00) and three hundred and seventy thousand dalasi (D370, 000.00) were found in the luggage of the suspect who coincidently, is a staff of the Central Bank of the Gambia (Currency Department).
3. ο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏThe matter was subsequently referred to the Fraud Squad Unit of the police in Banjul for further investigations.
4. ο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏAt the Fraud Squad Unit, the investigation showed that both Lamin Daboe and Nfamara Njie had no knowledge about the money therefore, they were discharged accordingly.
5. During interrogation, the suspect told the police that the $57,800 was given to him by one Bai Abi Jobe also a staff of the Central Bank of the Gambia Currency Department to be given to his (suspect) father while the GMD300,000 out of the GMD 370,000 belong to one Jadama. In another twist the suspect said the $57,800 was given to him by the above-named Bai Abi Jobe as his "share".
6. ο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏSubsequently, the suspect gave another statement to the effect that the $57,800 belong to his father and it was sent to him by his disciple from across the globe. This later version of the story of the suspect was also asserted by his father who came to the police station the following day even though he could not tell the police the amount. However, it should be noted that Bai Abi Jobe has been communicating to both the suspect who was in detention at the time and his father.
7. ο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏAlso, during the investigation, Bai Abi Jobe and one Ebrima Minteh and one Adam Njie who are also senior officials of the Currency Management Department of the Central Bank of the Gambia were all interrogated, and statements obtained from them. But they all denied any link with the money in question.
8. ο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏThe investigations requested the Central Bank to conduct a special audit at the Currency Management Department to confirm whether the monies were stolen from the Central Bank's Vault or not. However, the Internal audit report indicated that there was no loss discovered during the period under review.
OBSERVATIONS:
After a thorough perusal of the case file, the following observations are made.
- The suspect claimed that the money belongs to his father, sent to him by his disciples in Europe through M. Ceesay Forex Bureau. But the receipts from M. Ceesay Forex Bureau attached to the case file shows that payments were made to the beneficiaries in Gambian Dalasi not U.S. Dollar.
- The payments received by the suspect purportedly from M. Ceesay Forex Bureau was from January 2024 to December 2024 as indicated on receipts attached to the file.
- No statement was obtained from officials of M. Ceesay Forex Bureau to ascertain whether those transactions on the receipts were indeed paid by them.
- The suspects also claimed that one Mr Jadama gave him the GMD370,000 to change it with new bank notes for him. But there is no statement obtained from the said Mr Jadama confirming same or otherwise.
- The suspect's statement of account from Yonna Islamic Microfinance shows a balance of 2, 919,876.13 as closing balance and there were self- deposits of D800,000.00 on three occasions. However, the investigation did not also delve into the sources of those monies as it may be link to the money seized from the suspect.
- That the bank statements of the suspect and that of Bai Abi Jobe, Ebrima Minteh and Adam Njie are not in the file, and it should have been obtained and analysed.
- That copies of several letters were sent to various institutions requesting for information are in the file but none of the responds to such letters are included in the file.
- That no report from an external auditor was included in the file, it was merely mentioned in a letter written by the Governor, stating that the Central Bank conducts both internal and external audit.
Therefore, from the facts as contained in the case file and summarised herein, and also with the gaps in the investigation as highlighted in the observations above, it is our considered opinion that there is no prima facie case against the suspect.
The case file is hereby returned.
Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.
Signed
A.M. Yusuf
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
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InshAllah, we will bring you interviews with our sources at the police headquarters and the Central Bank, uncovering how the case was buried and an empty file sent to the Attorney Generalβs Chambers under the guise of seeking legal advice.
It was the same tactic they used with the missing D300 million at the GPA. The National Audit Office confirmed there was theft, but the case was quietly buried.
Under Barrow's administration, corruption is legalized.
