Prosecution Tenders Paulo Djabi’s Seized Vehicles, Motorcycles, and Jet Ski into Evidence 

Businessman Paulo Djabi

By Landing Ceesay

The prosecution has submitted twelve vehicles, three motorcycles, and a Jet Ski confiscated from Paulo Djabi as evidence in an ongoing trial before the High Court of The Gambia. The case involves Paulo Djabi (1st accused), Nadine Ismael De Gouveira Pereira (2nd accused), and Mamadu Neto Djabi (3rd accused), who face 20 charges of drug-related offences and money laundering.

Lamin Y.K. Sanneh, a member of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency-The Gambia (DLEAG), testified as the first prosecution witness. He informed the court that during their investigation, they seized the vehicles and other items, all belonging to Paulo Djabi.

When asked if he recognized the accused, Mr. Sanneh confirmed that he did, having seen them at the DLEAG office in August 2023. He also stated that he was part of a joint investigative team established to investigate Djabi’s activities during that time.Mr. Sanneh recounted that Djabi was arrested at his Fajara waterfront apartment. A search of the premises uncovered controlled substances, money in various currencies, and drug paraphernalia.  “Paulo Djabi was arrested, and a search was conducted on him in his apartment at the Fajara waterfront. As the investigation continues into his illegal dealings, during the conduct of the search, some controlled drugs and strings with needles and some monies ranging from euros, dollars, Dalasis, etc were recovered from him,” the witness told the court.

Mr. Sanneh informed the court that Paulo Djabi was arrested along with his wife, Nadine Ismael De Gouveira Pereira.

He further testified that during the search of Djabi’s compound, MDMA and amphetamine were discovered. These substances were sampled for analysis, and both a certificate and an analytical report were provided.

As the search continued, Mr. Sanneh added that authorities also seized Djabi’s vehicles, motorcycles, and a Jet Ski from the compound.
“A search was also conducted at Baraka Estate, at the house of Mamadou Neto Djabi (3rd accused person); after that, he was also arrested. Because, a stone of NDMA was also recovered from his house and was also subjected to analysis, which I witnessed. A certificate was issued, followed by an analytical report. Concealed in a plastic bag were strings and needles recovered from Paulo Djabi (1st accused person) that were suspected to be used for inhaling and injection,” the witness testified.

Mr. Sanneh said during the investigation, landed properties belonging to Paulo Djabi were discovered at various locations, like the Fajara waterfront, and some in Bijilo.
When asked where Paulo Djabi and Nadine Pereira were arrested, Mr. Sanneh said he was arrested at Envy NightClub in Fajara.

“We escorted both of them to their house at Fajara waterfront, Where the search was conducted, and about 60, 000 euros were found together with some money in other currencies,” he testified.

Mr. Sanneh informed the court that some of Paulo Djabi’s vehicles are currently parked at the Kairaba Police Station, while others are located at the DLEAG CTI Office in Bijilo.

At this stage, Senior State Counsel Lamin Jarjou applied for the court to conduct an on-site visit to both the Kairaba Police Station and the DLEAG CTI Office in Bijilo, where the seized vehicles are being held.

The presiding judge, Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, approved the request, as there was no objection from Senior Counsel Sheriff M. Tambedou, representing the accused.

During the visit to the Kairaba Police Station, Mr. Sanneh further explained that some of the seized vehicles were returned during the investigation after it was determined they did not belong to Paulo Djabi.

Mr. Sanneh stated that out of the 12 vehicles originally seized from Paulo Djabi, three are still at the Kairaba Police Station: a white Mitsubishi Pajero, a black Porsche, and a black Toyota. He added that the keys for the Mitsubishi Pajero (private registration WCR 1443 C), the Porsche (private registration BJL 8793 W), and the Toyota (registration NBR 3395 A) could not be located, which is why they remain parked at the station.
“Where were these vehicles found?” Counsel Jarjou asked

“Fajara Waterfront, at Paulo Djabi’s compound,” the witness told the court.

For evidential purposes, Hon. Justice Jaiteh, accompanied by his court staff, personally inspected the three vehicles parked at the Kairaba Police Station.

Counsel Jarjou subsequently applied to tender the vehicles as evidence and requested they be marked as Prosecution exhibits. With no objection from Defence Counsel S.M. Tambedou, Hon. Justice Jaiteh admitted the vehicles as evidence and officially marked them as Prosecution exhibits.

Regarding the custody of the vehicles, both legal teams agreed to place them under the supervision of the Station Officer (S.O.) of Kairaba Police Station.

Hon. Justice Jaiteh then ordered that the vehicles remain in the custody of the Station Officer until further court directives.

To protect the vehicles from sun damage, Defence Counsel Tambedou informed the court that his client, Paulo Djabi (the first accused), would offer to provide covers for the vehicles.

Hon. Justice Jaiteh granted this request, allowing the first accused to supply covers for the vehicles.

Following the inspection at Kairaba Police Station, the court proceeded to the DLEAG CTI Office in Bijilo to inspect other vehicles seized from Paulo Djabi.

At the DLEAG CTI Office, a witness testified that out of the 12 vehicles seized from Paulo Djabi, 9 were parked at the Bijilo office.
“Can you tell the court what type of vehicles are parked here in Bijilo?” Counsel Jarjou asked.

“Precisely, my lord, about 3 of the vehicles are Mercedes-Benz, about 3 are Jeep, a BMW, and RAM,” Mr. Sanneh testified.

Mr. Sanneh stated that the vehicles are parked in various directions across the premises at the DLEAG CTI Office. 

“From where you are, can you be able to tell the number plate of each vehicle?” Counsel Jarjou asked.

“I can only point out where the vehicles are parked, my lord,” Mr. Sanneh testified.

Counsel Jarjou requested the court’s permission to inspect the seized vehicles one by one. Hon. Justice Jaiteh subsequently conducted the inspection at the DLEAG CTI Office premises in Bijilo, where the vehicles were parked.

The nine vehicles belonging to Paulo Djabi that were seized and parked at the DLEAG CTI Office in Bijilo include: a Black Range Rover Vogue with registration number BJL 5662X; a Black Mercedes-Benz with a Senegalese number plate AA 774JA; a White Jeep with registration number BJL 9686X; a Black Dodge RAM with registration number WCR 8984; a Silver Grand Cherokee Jeep with registration number BJL 6018W; an Ash Mercedes-Benz 250 with registration number BJL 8792; a Black Mercedes-Benz with Senegalese number plate AA 211EX; a Black Wrangler Jeep with registration number BJL 1434X; and a BMW with registration number BJL 5839W.

Hon. Justice Jaiteh conducted an inspection of three motorcycles and a Jet Ski that had been seized from Paulo Djabi.

Following the inspection, State Counsel Jarjou submitted an application for the nine vehicles, three motorcycles, and the Jet Ski to be presented as evidence and marked as prosecution exhibits.

With no objection from the defense, Hon. Justice Jaiteh admitted the items as evidence and formally marked them as exhibits.
“Where did you find these vehicles during the course of your investigation?” Counsel Jarjou asked the witness shortly after the vehicles, motorcycles and Jet Ski were admitted as evidence.
“My lord, all these vehicles, motorcycles and a Jet Ski, were seized at different locations by the joint investigation of which I am a member. Some were seized at Fajara Waterfront, Envy Night Club, and Baraka Estate in Bakoteh, and I may not remember the exact location of others offhand,” the witness told the court.

Counsel Jarjou submitted an application for the vehicles to be placed under the custody of the Station Officer at the DLEAG CTI Office in Bijilo.

Hon. Justice Jaiteh approved the request, as Defence Counsel S.M. Tambedou did not raise any objections.

However, Counsel Tambedou made a separate application, requesting the court to grant his clients—Paulo Djabi, Nadine Pereira, and Mamadou Neto Djabi—weekly access to the vehicles. He explained that the vehicles, having been parked for over a year, need to be started regularly to prevent damage.
“We are requesting for the court to grant the accused person permission to come here once a week to start the vehicles and wash them so that they are not damaged,” Counsel Tambedou requested.

Hon. Justice Jaiteh granted the application as there was no objection from the State Counsel.

The witness informed the court that the motorcycles, Jet Ski, and Wrangler Jeep were missing their keys.

Hon. Justice Jaiteh then adjourned the case to October 28, 2024, for the continuation of PW1’s testimony.