Zero Tolerance for Corruption as Justice Ministry Staff Face Prosecution

By JarraNews Staff Writer President Adama Barrow has reaffirmed his government's commitment to accountability, declaring that no individual found culpable in commission of inquiry reports or audit findings will be shielded from justice. Sources close to JarraNews reveal that several cases investigated by the police and forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers are slated for prosecution, in what is seen as a strong message against corruption and the misuse of public funds. These impending legal actions aim to serve as a deterrent to public officials, civil servants, and others entrusted with managing state resources. In a major development underscoring the administration’s anti-corruption stance, three staff members of the Ministry of Justice have been formally charged in connection with alleged financial misconduct. The accused are Seedy Jammeh, Yusupha M. Cham, and Matarr Sylva—officials at the Intellectual Property Registry Office—who are alleged to have misappropriated over D14 million in public funds between 2018 and 2019. According to the bill of indictment filed by the State Law Office, the trio are facing six charges: conspiracy to defraud, theft, economic crime, forgery, official corruption, and abuse of office. Details of the Charges Count 1: Conspiracy to Defraud – The accused allegedly conspired to defraud the Government of The Gambia by issuing fraudulent receipts and misappropriating fees collected for trademark applications and renewals. Count 2: Theft – It is alleged that the trio dishonestly converted GMD 14,395,620 in public funds to their personal use. Count 3: Economic Crime – The accused reportedly engaged in willful financial misconduct, causing significant economic loss to the state. Count 4: Forgery – They are accused of falsifying IFMIS records to conceal the alleged embezzlement. Count 5: Official Corruption – Cham and Sylva, both public officers, allegedly received unlawful financial benefits by abusing their positions. Count 6: Abuse of Office – The same two defendants are charged with failing to adhere to financial procedures, leading to a substantial loss of public funds. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before the High Court in Banjul. Bail Hearings and Court Rulings During the bail hearing, State Counsel M. Sarr did not oppose bail but requested stringent conditions to ensure the accused remain available for trial. Defence Counsel S. Sonko, representing the first and third accused, argued that his clients had complied with previous police bail terms. He urged the court to maintain similar conditions. Counsel L.J. Darboe, representing the second accused, called for fair and practical bail terms, stressing that bail is a constitutional right and should not be used as a punitive tool.

In his ruling, Justice Jaiteh acknowledged the presumption of innocence under Section 24(3)(a) of the 1997 Constitution and noted the state’s lack of objection to bail. He further emphasized that there was no evidence suggesting the accused posed a flight risk or had attempted to tamper with witnesses. Justice Jaiteh granted bail under the following conditions: Each accused must provide bail in the sum of D16 million, along with one Gambian surety. The surety must be the registered owner of landed property within The Gambia, with a verified value of at least D16 million. A certified estate valuer must appraise the property, and a valuation report submitted to the High Court Registrar within ten days. Original title deeds must be deposited with the court for safekeeping. The accused must attend all court proceedings unless formally excused. Justice Jaiteh warned that any breach of these conditions would result in automatic revocation of bail and the issuance of a bench warrant. This latest development marks a critical test of President Barrow’s pledge to uphold transparency and justice within the public service.