Former President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh was significantly aided by the military to transport out of the country, tons of minerals illegally to the Asia country of China.
More than 50,000 tons of minerals, mostly rutile, zircon, and ilmenite were shipped out of the West African nation from mines across the country under the Jammeh regime, according to SMBC News.
The former General of the Army, Saul Badjie is reported to have aided in this illegal transport of minerals from mines in the eastern Gambia region of Basse.
The army according to the SMBC News aided in loading at least 90 containers with minerals for Jammeh worth some $7.75 million in less than two years.
Gambia’s President Adama Barrow after assuming office made changes to the military hierarchy in a bid to take control of the security agency which has many Jammeh loyalists.
Last week it emerged at ongoing proceedings at the presidential commission of inquiry in The Gambia that Yahya Jammeh withdrew public funds from the Central bank for private use.
Mr. Jammeh according to senior central bank officials withdrew $99,000 from the Vision 2016 Special Project Fund account at the Central Bank before fleeing the country into exile in January.
The Principal Banking Officer of the Central Bank of The Gambia, Karamo Jawara told the commission that the ex-leader made withdrawals while in exile.
The senior central bank official also said that at least $2.1 million was withdrawn from two accounts at the Guarantee Trust Bank and $142,000 and transferred to an offshore account in February.
Officials said Mr. Jammeh fled the country with at least $50 million and ransacked the Central Bank vault the morning before he left for Equatorial Guinea.
Yahya Jammeh was forced out of The Gambia in January this year after refusing to accept defeat in the presidential elections won by current president, Adama Barrow.
Source: Africafeeds.com
