(JollofNews) – Authorities in the Gambia have slapped criminal charges against three brothers of former President Yahya Jammeh.
Araba Jammeh, Jalamang Jammeh and Sainey Jammeh are charged with two counts of theft and released on police bail.
They are accused of stealing and selling cows belonging to their brother who is living in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
Family sources told JollofNews that the brothers have denied any wrong doing and are still in shock at their treatment by the police.
“They did not steal the cows. They had permission from Chairman [Jammeh] to sell the cows and use some of the money for the family and settle salary arrears of some of the workers on his farm,” a family member told JollofNews.
“These are honest and hardworking men who have never stolen a butut in their lives.”
The brothers have been in police net since on Tuesday. They were questioned at a police station in Bwiam for several hours before being asked to voluntarily report to the police headquarters on Wednesday where they were detained until Friday afternoon.
As part of the bail conditions, the men who all live in Kanilai are asked to make 119 kilometres journey everyday to the police headquarters in Banjul.
A very disturbing development/
An understatement, given the implications. This is another indication that the “New Gambia” is the “Old Gambia” of 52 years Warmed Over. What is the Legal Standing for the Charges? Under what legal Instrument or Grounds are the Jammeh brothers Arrested and Detained. What Criminal Act or Deed are they Accused of and more Significantly, who is Accuser (s)? These are Legal questions that need Clarification because the Accused Need to have the Opportunity to Confront their Accuser (s) in a Court of Law. Least the Gambians and the World allow themselves into a Collective Voluntary and Involuntary Amnesia Of the Exitence of an Agreement, or the Document (s) Of Resolution between Former President Yaya Jammeh and those Representing the Coalition Alliance Parties and their Leadership during the Gambian Political Impasse. The AU, ECOWAS and the UN were also Parties and Witnesses to the SAME Agreement which Stipulated to Former President Yaya Jammeh and therefore, anyone he Selects or Designates as his Executor (s) as the Legal Custodian of the former President Yaya Jammeh’s Kanilai and other Properties. The UDP Led Regime of Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darbo, and Mai Fatty are Pursuing a “Witch Hunt” against Persons associated with former President Yaya Jammeh and doing so in a Selective and Malicious Intent for Revenge, Avenge, and even Punish for the Sake of Punishment to Pacify and or Placate the Extremists Ethnic group Supporters of UDP and other Ethnocentrist Extremists. The danger is, the likes of the Over seers of the Ministry of Interior, Foreign Ministry and One Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang (Overseer of the Vice President’s (PORTFOLIO) Personslities may be Pushing the Gambia into Civil disturbance by Over reaching and tipping the Tolerance Niddle into the Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) Zone. When that happens, and no one can predict when or which Action or Inaction would trigger the backlash or Strike the Match. One could argue that Jammeh’s down fall began with the Declaration of Gambia as an Islamic State. With one Declaration, former President Yaya Jammeh was able to alienate the existing Opposition, and added new ones from all Gambian Political and Social Strata. The Non Muslims and Gambians’ long harboured feelings and believe in a Secular State, Free from the Needing influence of the State and Politicians Coalesced in Opposition AGAINST Jammeh. My Modest Plea to the UDP Led Regime and the Minister of Justice is, Please Drop all Charges Against the Jammeh brothers and anyone who may have been caught up in an Unlawful and Ilegal Arrest and Detention in the Gambia in the recent past and during former President Yaya Jammeh’s regime. #GAMBIA HAS DECIDED, is Meaningless if that DECISION Makes s Mockery of the Rule of Law over Men, Due Process and Equal Protection Before the Law in the “New Gambia”. The Gambia and Gambians are Diminished and Not Elevated or Improved in anyway or form by the Repeated Repugnant and Caprious Application of Justice to a Select Ethnic Group (s), especially Against the Jola Ethnic Group of Former President Yaya Jammeh. Maturity and Cosmopolitan thought process and not Seemingly “Infantile” Provincial and Nativism with an Ethnic Group Based Agenda. End Ethnic Group Based Arrests, Detentions and Purgings of Perceived Enemies.
Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One Ethnic Group or Region. One Gambia, One People, One Destiny.
Sidi, there is one possibility we have not considered. It is said that ex-President Jammeh gave his last Attorney General, Mama Singateh “POWER OF ATTORNEY” over all his property and business in The Gambia. That being so, no one can dispose of “Jammeh’s property” without authorisation from Mama Singhateh. Even Jammeh himself can’t dispose of his own property – until he revokes Mama Singhateh’s “Power of Attorney”. If the brothers sold the cattle on Jammeh’s say so only, without authorisation from Mama Singhateh, then they may indeed be liable to be charged with theft.
Jammeh may infact have “shot himself in the foot” by giving Mama Singhateh “POWER OF ATTORNEY”. I have seen a “Power of Attorney” document where the lawyer had included a clause which said: “6 months notice to cancel this Power of Attorney”!! If this is the case, Jammeh will have a real problem if Mama Singhateh, looking after her own interest, decides to work with the new government (which is what may have happened here if she decides to keep Jammeh property intact until the government decides what to do with it). Jammeh will probably be going crazy at Mama Singhateh just now – but there is nothing he can do! There may be a 6 month cancellation clause in the “Power of Attorney”. Then again there may be no lawyers in The Gambia willing to work for Jammeh; and he cannot come to The Gambia himself. And his family will starve because they cannot touch any of “his property”!! To all intents and purposes, once Jammeh has given Mama Singhateh “Power of Attorney”, he has no property left in The Gambia!
Sorry Babu Soli and Sidi – Kinteh is the happy man here! Jammeh has effectively been dispossed of his LOOT – legally through Mama Singhateh!
PS: Whenever I prepare a “Power of Attorney”, I always include a clause which says that “This Power of Attorney Agreement May Be Terminated At Anytime By Either Party Through A Simple E-Mail Message To That Effect”.
Quite a disturbing development indeed, especially when the orders came from His Excellency Alhajj Chairman Doctor Professor Sheik Nasr Deen Babilimansa Aziz Jemus Junkung himself. His ASSETS!
No one is above the law.The law is taking it cause even Jammeh himself you used to said that.
The Barrow government do appear to have made several “loose” agreements. Weather it be over Jammeh’s assets, the length of the term of The President or the discharge of former NIA operatives of the NIA { Now renamed The SIS}. The differing amounts touted as to the alleged authorised/unauthorised withdrawal of cash from State coffers, by Mr Jammeh is another matter that needs proof and confirmation or denial.
The differing commentaries online are largely based upon speculation. “It could be this or it could be that” Indicate the confusion through lack of clear information from Government.
Information or lack of it, only leaves the conclusion that any such speculation may be because the Government is not in control or is a secretive Government, or is intentionally misleading the people for whatever purpose.
As it stands No one knows the answers. Why were so many former NIA operatives discharged and re employed whilst others face prosecution? What was the decision making process?
Until all public questions remain unanswered. this will only amplify speculation.
Did Mr Jammeh take any money? Or is this helpful propaganda to bolster the new Government?
Does Jammeh own his remaining assets or is the government contemplating seizure through the courts?
Is the government protecting Jammeh’s assets by prior agreement? Or does any such agreement> not exist?
The family of Mr Jammeh claim his brothers were acting with ex President Jammeh’s permission. Is there any State interest in these assets that could be proved at court, that override ex President Jammeh’s prime interest.?
The fact that those accused are members of ex President family does not give them anymore entitlement to these assets than any member of the public, unless proof of permission {usually in written form} can be produced.
Government need to lead on all these questions or state they cannot disclose at this time for legal or other reasons.
I would suggest Government through freedom of Information should remedy this unhealthy situation to all concerned without further delay.
Any property stolen from the poor people of Gambia must be returned. Thus Jammeh brothers cannot act as agents for the former dictator and sell his property as a means of laundering. He was a thief!