Court Waits for Drug Case Star to Return from Holiday Trip.
A woman charged with moving drugs comes back to The Gambia this weekend. Nadine Ismael De Gouveira Pareira left for Portugal last month. She needs to face a judge in Banjul's High Court.
Judge Ebrima Jaiteh gave her time off at Christmas. He let her take her passport and fly home from December 13 to January 18. But she had to promise D5 million through her friend Saikou Conteh. The money stays safe if she returns on time.
Her lawyer, Sheriff Tambadou, told the court she would come back. He brought Conteh as proof. Conteh said he would pay if she missed her court date on January 20.
The state worried she might run away. But Judge Jaiteh said the law sees her as not guilty until proven wrong. He trusted her enough to travel, with Conteh's money as a backup.
The case links Pareira to other big names. Paulo Djabi, known for drug deals in Guinea-Bissau, shares charges with her. The court says they moved drugs together. Paulo faces more trouble with dirty money. His nephew Mamadu Neto Djabi got caught with drugs. Both Nadine and Neto must answer for washing money.
The judge stuck to facts, not fears. He refused to ask for more money to let her travel. The bail stayed at D5 million, enough to ensure her return and clear her name.
A woman charged with moving drugs comes back to The Gambia this weekend. Nadine Ismael De Gouveira Pareira left for Portugal last month. She needs to face a judge in Banjul's High Court.
Judge Ebrima Jaiteh gave her time off at Christmas. He let her take her passport and fly home from December 13 to January 18. But she had to promise D5 million through her friend Saikou Conteh. The money stays safe if she returns on time.
Her lawyer, Sheriff Tambadou, told the court she would come back. He brought Conteh as proof. Conteh said he would pay if she missed her court date on January 20.
The state worried she might run away. But Judge Jaiteh said the law sees her as not guilty until proven wrong. He trusted her enough to travel, with Conteh's money as a backup.
The case links Pareira to other big names. Paulo Djabi, known for drug deals in Guinea-Bissau, shares charges with her. The court says they moved drugs together. Paulo faces more trouble with dirty money. His nephew Mamadu Neto Djabi got caught with drugs. Both Nadine and Neto must answer for washing money.
The judge stuck to facts, not fears. He refused to ask for more money to let her travel. The bail stayed at D5 million, enough to ensure her return and clear her name.