The National Assembly’s Joint Committee has called on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to establish a special panel to thoroughly examine how the police handled the investigation of Mr. Aurimas Steiblys, the alleged key figure in a controversial importation of petroleum products worth over $30 million.
During their inquiry, the Committee flagged serious concerns about how the case was managed, citing procedural irregularities, inconsistencies, and signs of undue interference.
One major issue raised was that Mr. Steiblys, despite being the prime suspect, was merely cautioned and never formally charged. The police did not provide any record of a bail bond signed by him. Instead, he was released on what appears to be self-bail, and his passport was not seized to ensure his availability throughout the investigation.
The Committee also pointed out that the cautionary statement submitted by the police lacked basic formalities—it had no date, signature, or witness name, and appeared to have been written by multiple people.
In testimony before the Committee, Commissioner Pa Alieu Jawara, head of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), claimed the order to stop the investigation came from above, specifically from his former superior, the then Inspector General of Police, Abdoulie Sanyang. However, he later changed his statement, saying the investigation was merely placed “under review” following advice to the IGP.
This new version contradicted the accounts of several other officers, including those from the SIU and the Financial Intelligence Unit, who all confirmed receiving direct orders from Commissioner Jawara to halt the case.
The Committee also noted that because the suspect was allegedly uncooperative, the police gave him a questionnaire instead of conducting a standard interrogation. This document was completed with assistance from his lawyer. When asked about this unusual method, the police said it was based on the nature of the case, although such an approach deviates from normal practice.
Given the contradictions and procedural lapses, the Committee recommended the creation of a special panel to investigate Commissioner Jawara’s role in the case and report back to the Assembly within 90 days. It also called for a broader independent inquiry into the overall handling of the case by the police.
Concerning the former IGP and now Minister of Interior, Abdoulie Sanyang, the Committee proposed a censure vote against him. They stated that his claims about not being informed were disproven by records showing he had indeed minuted the matter to the SIU.
Testimonies also revealed that Sanyang received a call from the former Petroleum Minister, who told him that one of their international business associates was in custody. Sanyang reportedly responded that the matter was part of routine police work. Around the same time, the general manager of a major petroleum company also visited police headquarters to inquire about the same individual.
The Committee concluded that these communications from high-ranking officials amounted to interference in an ongoing investigation.
