Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a landmark ruling, Justice Zainab Jawara-Alami of the Banjul High Court has convicted and sentenced six Immigration officers for conspiracy, theft, economic crimes, and official corruption. The officers, identified as Momodou Jammeh, Omar Ceesay, Sarjo Saine, Sulayman Colley, Omar Badjie, and Sambujang Badjie, were handed their sentences on June 25, 2024.

The case, which was filed on July 9, 2019, detailed the officers’ involvement in a scheme that defrauded the government of visa fees paid by tourists. The charges stemmed from incidents that occurred in March 2018.

On the count of conspiracy, Omar Ceesay, Sarjo Saine, Sulayman Colley, Omar Badjie, and Sambujang Badjie were each fined D100,000 or sentenced to three years in prison. For theft, Omar Ceesay, Sarjo Saine, Sulayman Colley, and Omar Badjie were each fined D100,000 or sentenced to five years in prison. For official corruption, all six officers were fined D100,000 or sentenced to three years in prison. Justice Jawara-Alami ordered that the sentences run concurrently, allowing each convict seven days to pay their fines or face imprisonment.

The charges against the officers included conspiracy to commit a felony and theft of D602,000 in visa fees. The funds were paid by tourists visiting The Gambia and were supposed to be remitted to the government. However, the officers conspired to divert the money for personal gain.

Key testimonies during the trial revealed how the officers orchestrated the theft and distribution of the funds. Abdou A. Faye, the manager of OBT Shipping Agency, testified that he was instructed to split the visa fee payments, remitting D700,000 to the Central Bank and handing over D602,000 to the officers.

Police officer Yerro Saidy led the investigation, uncovering the fraudulent activities and recovering most of the stolen funds, except for D30,000 taken by Sambujang Badjie.

Despite their defense, the officers were unable to convince the court of their innocence. Each testified in their defense, with common claims of acting under orders and ignorance of the unlawful nature of their actions. Nevertheless, the court found sufficient evidence to convict all six officers.

Justice Jawara-Alami’s ruling emphasized the severity of their crimes and the importance of integrity among public officers, especially those entrusted with national revenue. This case marks a significant moment in The Gambia’s fight against corruption, setting a precedent for future cases involving public officials and reinforcing the judiciary’s role in upholding justice.