URGENT ACTION EX-GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL HELD INCOMMUNICADO
Mamadou Sajo Jallow, an ex-deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs has been held incommunicado for more than two months at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) without access to his family or a lawyer. He remains in detention despite a court granting him bail. Mamadou Sajo Jallow was dismissed as deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on 1 September. The following morning on 2 September, he was picked up by men in plain clothes from his residence in Kerr Serign in Banjul.
The men are believed to be NIA agents. Despite several attempts, his family and lawyer have not been able to contact or visit him even though they have unofficial information that he is being detained at the NIA headquarters. Mamadou Sajo Jallow has not been charged or brought before a court. Mamadou Sajo Jallow’s lawyer filed an application at the High court of Banjul for his release from NIA custody on 28 September and also for him to be granted bail. Justice Otaba of the Special Criminal Division of the High Court in Banjul on 17 October granted bail to Mamadou Sajo Jallow in the sum of D200,000 (approximately $USD 4,587.16 ) with two sureties. The sureties must be Gambians living in Gambia and they would be required to submit to the court title deeds of property equivalent to the bail amount. Another condition of the bail is for Mamadou Sajo Jallow to submit his travel documents to the Principal Registrar of the high court. This will be difficult since Mamadou Sajo Jallow’s travel documents were taken away by the men who arrested him.
Mamadou Sajo Jallow’s house had been broken into by unknown men twice prior to his arrest. The latest break in was on 1 September when his laptop and some personal documents were taken. Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Mamadou Sajo Jallow. Please write immediately in English or your own language: Calling on the Gambian authorities to immediately release Mamadou Sajo Jallow or promptly charge him with an internationally recognizable offence; Calling on them to immediately provide him with access to his family and lawyers; Urging them to ensure that he is not subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in detention.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 5 JANUARY 2017 TO: Minister of Justice and Attorney General Ms.Mama Fatima Singhateh Ministry of Justice and Attorney General Chambers, Marina Parade Banjul, Gambia Email: [email protected] and [email protected] Salutation: Dear Minister Director General of the National Intelligence Agency Mr Yankuba Badjie National Intelligence Agency Islamic Republic of The Gambia 10 Marina Parade Banjul Email: [email protected] Salutation: Dear Deputy of the National Intelligence Agency Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below: Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. URGENT