By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly of the Gambia, during the consideration stage of the Anti-Corruption Bill, removed clause 37 of the bill.
Clause 37 of the Anti-Corruption Bill addresses illicit enrichment, which occurs when a person who is or has been an officer is in possession of unexplained wealth, either through themselves or another person.
The relevant section reads:
“They maintain a standard of living that exceeds what is commensurate with their present or past official emoluments. They are in control of pecuniary resources or property that is disproportionate to their present or past official emoluments unless they provide a satisfactory explanation regarding how they were able to maintain such a standard of living or how such pecuniary resources or property came under their control. This behavior constitutes an offense and, upon conviction, is subject to a fine of three hundred thousand dalasis or imprisonment for seven years, or both,” Clause 37 reads