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Gambia's Jammeh, a
former iron-fist ruler who claimed to have extraordinary powers, now lives in Equatorial Guinea (Photo Credit: EPA)
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By
Modou Joof
(Bloomberg) -- The Gambia wants to prosecute former leader Yahya Jammeh for
looting state funds after a commission found that he embezzled at least $361.5
million during his more than two decades in power.
The Commission of Inquiry, established by President Adama Barrow two years ago, recommended Friday that the state charge Jammeh even though he’s been in Equatorial Guinea since he was ousted in 2017. It also recommended that his wife be prosecuted.
“The
government intends to submit a motion in the national assembly for charges to
be brought against Jammeh for theft and corruption,” Justice Minister Abubacarr
Tambadou said after the official release of the commission’s report on Jammeh’s
financial activities.
financial activities.
The 1,600-page report indicts at least 38 top government officials and private businessmen as well as banks for their alleged roles in aiding Jammeh loot state funds. Among those mentioned are military officers, a former vice president, a former central bank governor and five ex-cabinet ministers.
The
Gambian government has sold Jammeh’s cattle, tractors and several properties to
recover some of the funds. About 60 million dalasi ($1.2 million) of that money
has since gone to wages and operational costs of the Commission of Inquiry.
The U.S. embassy in Banjul said in a statement Friday it supports the Gambian government’s efforts to recover the “ill-gotten gains” by looking into available legal means.
Jammeh was forced to resign in January 2017 under the threat of military intervention after refusing to accept his defeat in presidential elections.
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