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The Gambian government has announced an investigation into the sale of assets confiscated from former President Yahim Jame, after a broad concern to society.
Some assets, including animal husbandry and luxury vehicles, were sold until the panel was still investigating the wealth gained by Jamma during his 22-year driving.
The investigation of the newspaper exposed the violations and the obvious lack of transparency in the sale of assets, which causes protests organized by the youth.
In a television address on Wednesday night, President Adam Barrau promised “complete transparency” in the probe, saying that the assets that were restored “belong to people”.
Jame, who seized power in the 1994 coup, is accused of organizing huge thefts of state funds, as well as with extensive human rights violations, including the murder and his criticism in prison.
The former leader, who in 2017 fled to exile into Equatorial Guinea after the election playback, had previously denied violations.
In 2017, the Mound President set up a commission for investigating corruption and financial violations by Jammu during his two decades.
The panel, which was called the Gian Commission, completed its conclusions in 2019 and recommended confiscation of assets related to Jama and its associates.
The investigation showed that Jamma allegedly stole at least 360 million dollars (270 million pounds) and spent a lot of expensive vehicles, planes and real estate.
He still comments on the allegations, but his supporters in Gambia rejected the results against him as a political witch.
Jamma live animal – including cows, sheep and goats, – agricultural tractors, vehicles and other values were among the assets appointed by the state.
In 2019, the Mound President allowed the ministerial labor to control the recovery of assets with regular updates of the Cabinet.
But An investigation report published by a local republic newspaper Earlier this month, high -ranking state officials were accused of asset sale, friends and family at a lower market value.
The report became viral in social media, provoking protests in the capital, a Bandjul, where dozens of people were arrested, including journalists, but later released.
After public pressure, the government published a detailed list of assets already sold, which included some luxury cars Jammu, livestock, boats, construction equipment, household goods, parcels and heavy agricultural machines.
The long list shows buyers, prices and sales dates.
However, some luxury cars Jammu, like his individual Rolls Royce and Bentley, were not on the list.
It is unclear whether his vehicles were sold or sent because the government allowed him to deliver some items to Equatorial Guinea.
The list of caused additional indignation about how many valuable items was seemingly sold at suspected low prices.
The government did not give any explanations about the prices, but the Ministry of Justice said in the statement that the sale went through a “legally substantiated process”.
“The government has been in force all the time within the law and public interest,” the ministry said.
In his address on Wednesday, the bars stated that he had convened a session of the cabinet the day before to discuss the details of the sales, some of which he studied “for the first time”.
He said the country’s parliament and the national auditor are conducting parallel requests on this.
“Their conclusions will be published, and my government will follow its recommendations for the shortcomings, identified and prosecuted by any person or subject, found guilty,” the President said.
He urged the Gambians to remain calm, warning that his government “would not tolerate negligence, or any violations related to the preservation of our country’s resources.”
But activists and opposition parties rejected the president’s confidence, saying that the parliament cannot be trusted.
Yaya Sanyan, an opposition deputy, called for an independent probe, saying that the parliament was “full loyalists of the ruling parties”.
Edward Francis is a small center of rights and justice, a human rights group, demanded that the President take responsibility and freeze the sale of all confiscated assets.
In 2022, the United States seized a luxury mansion in Merilend, which is said to be purchased by Jammu through corruption revenue.
During the investigation, the US Department of Justice said Jammu had acquired at least 281 property during his stay and managed more than 100 private bank accounts.
