Andrew Charles Northfield - The Gambia

Last updated: 12 January 2012

Andrew Charles Northfield (Charlie), mining engineer and father of three from Portsmouth, was arrested in The Gambia on February 12, 2008, accused of assisting his company in tax evasion. After spending 10 days in the notorious Mile 2 prison in Gambia, without access to legal representation or any contact with his friends and family, he was released on bail after Charlie's company baid a bail deposit of $450,000. Charlie's passport was withheld by the authorities and he was unable to leave the country.

Although Charlie's position had improved, he was stuck in limbo while he waited for the Gambian authorities to decide whether to take a case against him. Months after his release, Charlie still had no access to his family and no evidence against him had been produced. FTI called on the Gambian authorities to drop the charges against Charlie, citing that the offences were alleged to have been committed 10 months prior to his appointment.

The Gambian authorities refused to abandon the investigation or even expedite his case. As a result Charlie had the bold decision to escape from The Gambia of his own accord. After a terrifying journey, enduring a 125 mile drive through the Gambian bush, and swimming a flood-swollen river, Charlie eventually arrived back in London in early September 2008.