By Sainabou Sambou
In a significant development in the ongoing money laundering trial of Paulo Djabi, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of The Gambia admitted several business registration documents linked to the accused during a hearing on Monday. The ruling marks a pivotal moment in the case, which has drawn considerable attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the prominence of the accused’s business ventures.
Ali Jammeh, a witness from the Ministry of Justice’s Company Business Registry, testified for the prosecution, shedding light on the procedures for registering businesses in The Gambia. Jammeh detailed the registry’s operations, stating, “We handle business registrations for non-profit organizations. To register, an applicant must complete a form and provide a receipt, including details such as the business name, owner’s residential address, and email address.” He explained that since 2014, the registry has maintained a digital system to store this information securely.
Jammeh confirmed that he retrieved five business registration records for Paulo Djabi, all of which were registered in 2024. Prosecuting Counsel M. Singhateh moved to tender three certificates of business registration and a search report from the Office of the Registrar of Companies as evidence. The documents included certifications for businesses owned by Djabi, trading as Envy Club House, Always Win, and Always Drive, as well as a notice of cancellation for Envy Club House and a search report dated October 22, 2025.
The submission faced opposition from Defence Counsel K.S. Tambadou, who argued that the documents were incomplete, as they did not encompass all businesses registered under Djabi’s name. Tambadou questioned the thoroughness of the registry’s search, suggesting the evidence was insufficiently comprehensive.
In response, Counsel Singhateh countered that the authenticity of the documents was undisputed, and their relevance to the case was the primary criterion for admissibility under Section 3 of the Evidence Act, 1994. “The Defence’s objection pertains to completeness, not authenticity or relevance,” she argued, urging the court to dismiss the objection.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Jaiteh emphasized that relevance is the cornerstone of admissibility. “The law is clear: the primary test for admitting evidence is its relevance to the facts in issue, not its exclusivity or completeness,” he stated. He noted that the documents, all bearing Djabi’s name and originating from the Registrar of Companies, were pertinent to the money laundering charges, as they illuminated the accused’s financial and business activities.
Jaiteh dismissed the Defence’s objection, stating, “The argument that the documents may not cover all of the accused’s businesses goes to the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility. The objection is misconceived and lacks merit.” He subsequently admitted the following into evidence:
Exhibit P16: Certificate of Business Registration for Paulo Djabi, trading as Envy Club House, SRN 2100394256, dated November 18, 2024.
Exhibit P17: Certificate of Business Registration for Paulo Djabi, trading as Always Win, SRN 2100394256, dated July 28, 2025.
Exhibit P18: Certificate of Business Registration for Paulo Djabi, trading as Always Drive, SRN 2100394256, dated June 30, 2025.
Exhibit P19: Notice of Cancellation and Striking Off of Envy Club House.
Exhibit P20: Search Report from the Office of the Registrar of Companies, dated October 22, 2025, addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Justice Jaiteh ordered that copies of Exhibits P16 to P20 be provided to the Defence immediately. The admitted documents are expected to play a crucial role in establishing the scope of Djabi’s business activities, which are central to the prosecution’s case alleging money laundering.
The trial, which has gripped public interest, was adjourned to November 13, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. for further proceedings.
