By Mam Demba Gaye, Banjul
A top NIA official, who was assigned to oversee the.jpg)
investigations of the alleged car theft case, involving Lieutenant Bakary Camara and police ASP Manlafi Sanyang has been fired, according to a spokesperson at The Gambia Police Force. The NIA officer had his services with the Agency terminated with immediate effect. The move followed allegations that he was siding with the accused persons. The police spokesperson says Lieutenant Bakary Camara never stole any car from the President. “ What actually transpired was that the President gave a power of attorney to Lieutenant Camara to mediate between him (Jammeh) and one white man who had reached a business deal with him. The white man got stopped on numerous occasions at the Denton Bridge, while driving a car without a license plate, Insurance and other relevant paperwork. Each time, the White man got stopped by our men, he would called the State House and complained about the conduct of our men. Camara was advised by the President to go ahead and facilitate the registration of the car’s name in the white man’s name, thus giving him all the rights to have custody of the said car. The car’s title and other important information were transferred in the white man’s name. For unknown reasons, the President parted with his business partner, which led to the subsequent arrest and prosecution of Bakary Camara and Manlafi Sanyang.” said the police spokesperson at the police headquarters in Banjul.
The police spokesman said when his men moved in to confiscate the said car from the white man, the businessman told them that the car belongs to him and he had the necessary documentary evidence to prove ownership of the said contested car. “ The President became mad, when he learnt that the man refuses to surrender the car. He gave orders for Lieutenant Camara and all those associated with the problem be arrested. What’s evident though is that, the white man was Jammeh’s closest business associate. The business deal he had reached with the white man is unclear, but all I can tell you is that Lieutenant Camara was sacrificed by the President. Camara had on numerous occasions acted as a mediator between Jammeh and the said white man. Perhaps, he wants to conceal the deal to Gambians by arresting and prosecuting Camara. Our seniors in the Force have clearly stated that there is no case against the accused persons. The NIA too had the same feelings about the said case“ said the police spokesperson.
The Freedom Newspaper was reliably informed that the NIA officer attached to the said case was dismissed for unexplained reasons. “ Before close of business yesterday, we received information that the NIA officer assigned to Bakary Camara’s case was dismissed. This case is a delicate one, because the President does not want anyone privy to the deal to remain in the service. Bakary knows a lot and as such he is considered as a potential threat. The truth be told, he has not committed any offense. This was a deal between Jammeh and the white man. To the best of our recollection, the President instructed Bakary Camara to authorize the title transfer, which was done inline with the laws of the land. There was no scam whatsoever.” said the police spokesperson
NIA officer Famara Sandeng was asked to go home for unexplained reasons. He obtained cautionary statements from LT.Bakary Camara and ASP Sanyang during the time of the investigations. His findings never went down well with the President.
Sandeng is an inlaw to the late Captain Sadibou Hydara. His sister used to marry to Sadibou Hydara. He was born and raised in Dippa-Kunda, just near the mosque. He is a younger brother to the wife of the late Sadibou Hydara. His sacking was politically motivated. Sandeng did what was expected of him as an investigating officer.
Just recently, the Africell Managing Director was expelled from the country amidst allegations that he wanted to kill the Presidential convoy lined up to welcome Jammeh from his Taiwan trip. Like, other Jammeh business partners, the Africell boss was also kicked out of the country. He was given 24 hours ultimatum to leave The Gambia or risked being deported.
Police sources said the President was in the business of sacrificing soldiers who risked their lives to serve him. “ Bakary is one of the most honest and God fearing soldiers you can find in the army. He refused to be used to kill his fellow Gambians. We at the police can attest to this fact. The President should be bold enough to explain what actually happened than to file bogus charges against Camara and co. “ said the police spokesperson.
Police sources reaching the Freedom Newspaper say the President is apparently refusing to discuss what led to his strained relationship with the said white man. “ His business with the white man was up and running, until recently that he decided to part with the guy. The President on many occasions had given directives through Lieutenant Bakary Camara for the white man to be released each time he was stopped by our men at Denton Bridge. This is the true state of affairs. Bakary was just a mediator between Jammeh, the white man and us the police. We want Gambians to know what actually transpired.” said the police spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ousman Sonko has been accused of poisioning former police chief Ousman Sanneh to death. Sanneh who was reported to be suffering from a killer disease name withheld was said to have been poisoned by Sonko and Lt.General Lang Tombong Tamba. Sanneh was at the time investigating stolen state house vehciles involving SOS Sonko and others, sources revealed. " Sonko needs to be questioned if Jammeh don't want to make others believe that he is out for a witchhunting." said our source.
The Freedom Newspaper is currently investigating the business deal between Jammeh and the said white man. We shall keep you posted once we are done with our investigations. For now, we want to give chance to our investigative reporters to further dig on the story before we could comment on the main gist of the story. Stay tuned.
This is not the first time that President Jammeh had fallen out with his business partners. First was Francisco Caso, an Italian National who he contracted to oversee his Presidential security and other organized crimes in the country. Caso was tasked with training the jungullars and also to lead assault attacks against political opponents in the country.