Both Mr. Sheriff Abba Sanyang, the former governor of the Central River Region (CRR), and the former minister of lands, regional integration, and religious affairs, have been granted bail by the High Court of The Gambia, which is chaired by Hon. Justice Sarah Aryee. While he awaits the hearing and conclusion of the several criminal allegations against him, he has been released on D500,000.00 bond.
Mr. Sanyang was officially charged with 27 crimes by the Office of the Attorney General’s Chambers in July 2024. Pa Lamin Jobe, who is also connected to the crime, is on trial with him.
According to the charges, Mr. Sanyang gave contracts worth hundreds of thousands of Dalasis to his sons’ company, Sankulay Firm, in Janjanbureh between January and July 2022, in violation of the civil service Code of Conduct. These alleged transgressions occurred when Mr. Sanyang was CRR’s governor.
Forgery, the use of fake documents while in office, economic crimes that resulted in significant financial losses for the Gambian government, and disobedience of statutory duties are among the charges against Mr. Sanyang.
Hon. Justice Aryee granted bail during the October 24, 2024, court session, subject to obtaining one Gambian surety. As part of the bail requirements, Mr. Sanyang must deposit his passport and the surety must provide their passport and national identity card.
For additional hearings, the case has been postponed until November 21, 2024.
