Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Sergeant Modou Saine, a serving member of the Gambia Armed Forces, has requested to be discharged from the military after accusing Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Mamat Cham of unlawful detention, abuse of authority, and personally benefiting from assets seized during anti-irregular migration operations.
Sgt Saine, who said he had served as personal assistant to the CDS since 2018, alleged that he was detained on the orders of Lt. Gen. Cham over a disputed sum of D58,000 linked to the imprest account of the CDS’s office.
According to The Standard who broke the story, Saine claimed he was informed by the Provost Marshal that he was being held for allegedly refusing to hand over the money.
“I was told by the Provo Marshal that I was being detained for refusing to hand over the same money belonging to the office of the CDS,” he said.
The Standard says Saine was released late at night on April 22 following the intervention of National Security Adviser Abubakarr Suleiman Jeng, who was reportedly briefed on the matter and advised him to return the funds.
However, Saine maintained that the disputed money was his personal money, which he said he had spent while carrying out errands and assignments for the CDS.
The Standard says Saine revealed that Lt. Gen. Cham frequently instructed him to make payments to individuals, purchase items, and execute various unofficial tasks on his behalf.
“I keep multiple and reliable records of every transaction the CDS ordered me to do from all the monies handed to me. In some instances, as in this case, the monies would run out and I will spend my own money to run his errands,” Saine alleged.
He further claimed that after his detention, he was abruptly transferred from his role as personal assistant to a clerical position at Army Headquarters.
“My sudden transfer came with no official reason but I am pretty sure that it came from the interference of another person in the CDS’s family and not on professional grounds,” he alleged.
Saine speaking to The Standard said that after presenting records of the transactions following his release, officials confirmed that the D58,000 in question belonged to him and not to the CDS’s office.
“But after my release, and when I presented all records about the transactions, all parties confirmed that indeed the money they said I refused to hand over was actually mine and was given back to me,” he said.
“I have a signed document by all officials concerned confirming that I have never taken any money and therefore my detention was illegal,” he added.
Soldier Raises Questions Over Alleged Financial Dealings
Sgt Saine told The Standard that the incident prompted him to formally seek discharge from the army, a request he claimed has already been approved.
However, he said there are unresolved matters relating to assignments he allegedly carried out on behalf of the CDS which he wants addressed before his exit from the military.
“These include loans he sent me to receive from businessmen totalling hundreds of thousands of dalasis; a boat seized from migrant operators now turned into his personal fishing boat etc,” Saine alleged.
He claimed he acted on the direct instructions of the CDS in all the transactions and said he possesses records to support his allegations.
“I want these loans settled and all transactions legalised, since I am now leaving the army,” he said, while calling on authorities to investigate the allegations.
GAF Dismisses Allegations
Responding to the allegations, Gambia Armed Forces spokesperson Malick Sanyang dismissed the claims as “false and malicious.”
“The purported information is inaccurate, misleading, and lacks factual basis,” Sanyang said in a response shared with The Standard.
He added that the military operates under established ethics, administrative procedures, and codes of conduct applicable to all serving personnel regardless of rank.
“In that regard, the GAF High Command continues to discharge its responsibilities in accordance with established military standards of discipline, professionalism, and decorum across all formations and units under command,” he stated.
Sanyang further told The Standard that the military remains committed to maintaining command structures, institutional processes, and the welfare of personnel.
“At this time, there is no situation arising from the matter in question that undermines operational focus, command cohesion, or the routine functioning of the High Command,” he added.
The military spokesperson also urged the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified claims.
However, the GAF response did not directly address the specific allegations raised by Sgt Saine, including claims of unlawful detention, financial transactions involving businessmen, or the alleged personal use of a boat seized during anti-migration operations.
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