Paulo Djabi
By Landing Ceesay
Senior Counsel Sheriff M. Tambadou cross-examined Lamin Y.A. Sanneh, an officer of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG), regarding the arrest of Paulo Djabi and two other accused persons currently on trial at The Gambia’s High Court.
The accused—Paulo Djabi (1st accused), Nadine Ismael De Gouveia Pereira (2nd accused), and Mamadu Neto Djabi (3rd accused)—face 20 counts of drug-related offences and money laundering.
During the cross-examination, Mr. Sanneh, who served as the First Prosecution Witness (PW1), revealed that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed between July and August 2023 to investigate the alleged crimes. The team, consisting of about 20 members, included representatives from DLEAG, the Gambia Police Force, the Gambia National Army, the State Intelligence Services (SIS), and the Immigration Department.
“How many members were there in the team?” Counsel SM Tambadou asked. “I cannot remember the exact number, but we were about 20 in the team,” Mr. Sanneh told the court.
Mr. Sanneh also informed the court that approximately 5 to 6 members of the Joint Investigation Team, which consists of 20 individuals, are part of the DLEAG.”And the rest of the team where were they from?” Counsel Tambadou asked.
“Different Security Sectors of the Gambia; The Police, Gambia National Army, the SIS, and the Immigration department,” Mr. Sanneh said.
Mr. Sanneh informed the court that their terms of reference were to investigate alleged crimes involving certain individuals, including Paulo Djabi.
However, when asked to identify the individuals accused of the alleged crimes, Mr. Sanneh could not recall their names, including Paulo Djabi.
“I am putting it to you that you cannot remember any other people because none existed apart from the first accused (Paulo Djabi)?” Counsel Tambadou put it to the witness.
“That I cannot say for certain,” the witness told the court. Mr. Sanneh stated that he could not recall any other individuals being charged in connection with the alleged crime, aside from Paulo Djabi (1st accused), his wife, Nadine Ismael De Gouveia Pereira (2nd accused), and his nephew, Mamadu Neto Djabi (3rd accused).
“Those other people in your mandate were they not charged?” Counsel Tambadou asked.
“I said earlier I could not remember any other person apart from the accused persons,” he told the court.
“The terms of reference, according to you, was to investigate an alleged crime. What was the alleged crime?” Counsel Tambadou asked.
“Money laundry and possession of prohibited drugs and any other crime against the law,” Mr. Sanneh testified. Before the establishment of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), Mr. Sanneh informed the court that the team was formed due to suspicions surrounding Paulo Djabi and others. He further stated that the JIT successfully completed its mandate.
“Are you saying that the JIT was set up only because of suspicion and not alleged crime?” Counsel Tambadou asked”It was suspicion of an alleged crime, meaning they were suspects in money laundering and possession of prohibited drugs,” he said.
“What about the 3rd accused person (Mamadu Neto Djabi), and was he also suspected of money laundry, and drugs?” Counsel Tambedou asked.
“It was during the investigation the 3rd accused was arrested, Mr. Sanneh testified.
Mr. Sanneh said he could not remember the exact date Mamadu Neto Djabi was arrested, but it was around late August to September 2024.
“I am putting it to you that the 3rd accused person (Mamadu Neto Djabi) was arrested on 27 of August,” Counsel Tambedou said.
“I am further putting it to you that the 3rd accused person arrived in the Gambia on 27th of August 2023?” Counsel Tambedou put it to the witness.
“I was not at the border to know who comes in and out. All that I know is that he was arrested in the Gambia,” the witness told the court.
Mr. Sanneh denied knowing if Mamadu Neto Djabi’s passport was confiscated at the time of his arrest.
When asked if he was aware that Mamadu Neto Djabi had made a statement, he confirmed that he was.
“I am putting it to you that in his statement, he (Mamadu Neto Djabi) stated that he entered the Gambia from Guinea-Bissau on the 27th August 2023, a day after he was arrested,” Counsel Tambedou put it to him.
Mr Sanneh told the court that he was not aware of such.
“Why didn’t you verify the truthfulness of his statement that he arrived from the Gambia.?” Counsel Tambedou asked. The witness said he could not remember.