(JollofNews) – A special criminal court in the Gambia Monday ordered President Yahya Jammeh’s half-brother to pay D25 million after he pleaded guilty for corruption.
Ansumana Jammeh, who was Gambia’s ambassador to Qatar, admitted conspiring with Sanna Bah, managing director of MALIGAM, and Assan Badjie between June 2010 and February 2011 to corruptly solicit and received US$1,550,065.00 equivalent to D45, 515,907.00 through CONAPRO Company, in discharge of their duties.
Mr Jammeh also admitted soliciting and receiving US$1,550,065.00 equivalent to D45, 515,907.00 through CONAPRO Company between June 2010 and to February 2011 while serving as ambassador in Qatar and managing director of MALIGAM.
The men were arrested in April after state prosecutors launched an investigation into one of the largest corruption case in the country’s history. They have previously denied the charges but later pleaded guilty after a plea bargain.
In their plea of mitigation, the men’s lawyer, Lamin Camara, said his clients have from the beginning of the trial cooperated not only with the investigation of the case, but also with the trial proper.
“By pleading guilty to the charges, they have saved the prosecution’s time, energy and money in terms of litigation costs and, therefore, they were entitled to and should be accorded a sympathetic sentence,” he said.
Lawyer Camara added that the men were remorseful and regretful and he appealed to the judge to temper justice with mercy.
“They are first-time offenders and respective heads of their families and breadwinners,” he said.
“The accused persons are also young and at the prime of their lives, and have every reason to aspire to be better citizens and serve their state with diligence. I respectfully urge this court to exercise its powers under section 29(3) of the CPC and not to impose a custodial sentence on them.”
Sentencing the men, Justice Eunice Dada of the Special Criminal Court ordered Mr Jammeh to forfeit his in Bijilo and Old Yundum and his vehicle and pay D25 million within 36 months from the date of the judgment to the state.
She also ordered Sanna Bah and Hassan Badjie to pay D120,000 each respectively within six months.
