By Tabora Bojang
Police spokesperson ASP Lamin Njie yesterday confirmed to The Standard that the police have been issued a bench warrant to arrest Melville Roberts, the suspended foreign affairs official over series of accusations of sexual misconduct against him.
Roberts, who is currently in the UK has since denied all allegations.
When the allegations started flying in, the Ministry called him back but he refused to return.
Last week, an authoritative government source confirmed to The Standard that Roberts’ diplomatic immunity has been revoked over his failure to return home as ordered by the Ministry.
Now, according to the police spokesperson, the police have already secured bench and search warrants to enable them search his premises for evidential materials and also have him arrested in connection to the allegations.
Njie said they have also invited the accusers who have also made statements to the police as investigations continue.
The PRO said the police would do everything possible to execute the arrest warrant and “are considering the possibility of doing an international search for him by liaising with partner police departments around the world to find ways of having him arrested and brought back to The Gambia.”
Roberts was the head of American Affairs Division at the ministry of foreign affairs.
The Standard contacted the communication officer of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to shed light on the Ministry’s stance.
He responded by email saying: “Based on the government’s strict adherence to the rule of law, the Ministry is waiting for charges to be levied against him by the police before any action is taken.”
