By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
A Pakistani national who allegedly posed as a diplomat and used fake credentials to defraud Gambians has been arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, facing seven serious criminal charges that span years of alleged deception and financial misconduct.
The accused, Atif Amin, appeared before Principal Magistrate Muhammed Krubally on Monday, charged with impersonation, forgery, obtaining money by false pretence, issuing false cheques, and assuming false authority. The prosecution claims these alleged offences occurred between 2022 and 2024 in Banjul and other areas within The Gambia.
Led by Assistant Commissioner A. Manga and Sergeant M. Jammeh, the prosecution detailed a wide range of accusations.
In the first two counts of impersonation, Mr. Amin is accused of falsely representing himself as a Pakistani diplomat and chairman of the Pakistani community in The Gambia. Prosecutors say he used this fake identity to interact with public offices such as the Banjul City Council, the Executive Director of Lands, Internal Audits, and IT departments. He is also accused of using fake diplomatic number plates on his vehicles—including “1 AV4 ICD” and “Pakistan I.C.D”—to reinforce his assumed identity and deceive officials.
The third count charges Mr. Amin with forgery, alleging he fabricated the diplomatic license plates used on the vehicles.
The fourth and fifth counts relate to financial deception. Mr. Amin allegedly obtained D100,000 from one Muhammad Ousman, claiming he would transfer the money to Ousman’s family in Pakistan, a transaction that was never completed. He is also accused of taking D15,000 from Lamin Kinteh under the pretext of building a website, which was never delivered.
On the sixth count, Mr. Amin is charged with issuing false cheques. Prosecutors said he issued two Zenith Bank Gambia Ltd. cheques—one for D100,000 to GACH GLOBAL Company and another for D71,000 to Basamba Drammeh—while knowing his account lacked sufficient funds.
The final count accuses Mr. Amin of falsely assuming the authority of a diplomat, allegedly presenting himself as the Pakistani Ambassador to several Gambian institutions.
Mr. Amin pleaded not guilty to all charges. In response, Assistant Commissioner Manga urged the court not to grant bail, citing the accused’s previous conduct. Manga informed the court that Mr. Amin was granted bail in May 2024 on the condition that he provide two Gambian sureties worth D300,000 each. He allegedly violated those conditions by fleeing, which led to the arrest of his sureties, Saihou Jarjou and Musa Dumbuya. The sureties told police they believed Mr. Amin had travelled to Guinea-Bissau.
However, police later found the accused hiding in his own toilet, despite claims from his wife that he was no longer in the country.
Mr. Amin defended himself in court, explaining that he had travelled to Guinea-Bissau to donate 600 bags of rice and had photographic proof of his humanitarian gesture. He also claimed to have visited the Office of the Vice President and said he was well-known in Gambian media circles due to his frequent newspaper columns.
“I will never run away from this case,” Mr. Amin told the court. He added that his five mobile phones, five laptops, and five cheque books have been in police custody for over a year, stressing that he has nothing to hide and will cooperate fully with the judicial process.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Magistrate Krubally acknowledged that while the charges were serious, the law allows for bail in such cases. Exercising his discretion, he granted Mr. Amin bail in the sum of D500,000. The bail conditions require Mr. Amin to present two Gambian sureties with verified employment or business engagements. The sureties must also submit valid national identification, contact information, and swear affidavits of means to ensure the accused’s presence at future court proceedings. Should he abscond, the bail sum will be forfeited.
The case is scheduled to resume on July 27, 2025.
