By: Nicholas Bass
Nadine Ismael De Gouveira Pareira, the alleged female drug trafficker and money launderer, is expected to return to The Gambia this weekend for the continuation of her trial before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh at the Banjul High Court.
In December 2024, Justice Jaiteh granted Nadine Christmas leave, allowing her to travel to Portugal from December 13, 2024, to January 18, 2025, with her passport temporarily released. During this period, she was subject to a D5 million bail bond, secured by her surety, Saikou Conteh, who pledged to forfeit the bond if Nadine failed to return.
Defense lawyer Sheriff M. Tambadou had argued that Nadine was committed to returning to defend the charges against her. In support, he presented Saikou Conteh as her surety, who confirmed his willingness to forfeit the D5 million if she did not appear in court on January 20, 2025.
Despite concerns raised by the state regarding the risk of Nadine not returning to The Gambia, Justice Jaiteh emphasized that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty under the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia. Justice Jaiteh also noted that Nadine was released into the custody of her surety, with the understanding that the D5 million bail bond would be forfeited if she missed her court date.
Justice Jaiteh ultimately granted the application, stating that the court does not act on speculation and that there was no legal basis for increasing the bail bond at that stage.
Court records show that Nadine Ismael De Gouveira Pareira and her alleged accomplice, Paulo Djabi, a notorious drug trafficker from Guinea-Bissau, are jointly charged with drug possession and trafficking. Paulo Djabi is separately facing charges of money laundering and currency disclosure, while his alleged nephew, Mamadu Neto Djabi, is charged with possession of prohibited drugs. Nadine and Neto Djabi are also jointly charged with money laundering.
