Kidnapping is widespread in the middle east, not to mention Iraq, but rare in other parts of the world. When it came knocking on the doors of Gambians, the response was swift, unequivocal and unparalleled. The message to the would be kidnappers, don't try it in the Gambia again.
The whole episode stunned Gambians, so was the unfolding of the time line. It began with an announcement on or about the 21st day of November, 2006, that Mr Jianzhong Xu, a Chinese businessman had gone missing. The name kidnapping was not used because it simply never crossed any body's mind. However, the massive search conducted by the security forces, indicates that this is not the kind of ordinary missing person case you would normally hear about. The massive search paid dividend three days later on Friday 24th November, 2006. As early as 11am, the security personnel began rounding up suspects and by dusk, a team of highly seasoned officials were interrogating the rounded suspects and drawing up possible charges. The police nabbed two key perpetrators, namely Zaid Haled Wehbi and Ahmed Ibrahim both Lebanese nationals. Four accomplices were also apprehended; two more Lebanese nationals Fadel Fahil, Imad Diab and Husai Gamlasel, and two Nigerians Obiora John Nwobodo and William Denial Oseni.
A weeks later, wednesday November 29th the suspects pleaded guilty before principal magistrate Moses Richards of Bundung. Magistrate Richards has already made name around town as the toughest magistrate, who sends convicts for the longest and hardest sentences. It was not surprising that the police chose to prosecute at this court especially when jurisdiction could have been easily challenged. ( NB. We have the Kanifing Magistrate Court and the Bundung magistrate court, both located in the Kanifing Municipality. Bundung court was established in the nineties to ease the backlog of cases in Kanifing court) The magistrate wasted no time as the suspects had already pleaded guilty. He sentenced each of the six to a combined period of 19 years imprisonment each and a compensation of D25,000.00 ($909.09) each to the victim.
The message here speaks loud and clear; that kidnapping or any kind of imported act of lawlessness is not welcomed in the Gambia. And the security agency confirmed this message by their swift reaction. Within a week, arrests, detentions and freeing of victim was made. The suspects had sought a 5m. Euro as a ransom from their captive. Unfortunately, they were slammed with a 19year sentence and a compensation of D25,000.00 each to the victim. This is a land mark case and the precedence it sets will certainly go global. As for the authorities, they knew what they wanted and where to get it. Magistrate Moses Richards has been consistently tough on all forms of crimes and misdemeanours. He once told a journalist that he does not own a cell phone because his job requires him to have as little interactions with the public as possible. He has been exceptionally harsh on traffic offenders whom he send for long sentences. He is a rare kind in the Gambian judiciary.
