Charity calls on Gambian authorities to immediately drop all charges against British businessman

March 05 2008

The legal charity which helps individuals facing trial abroad has called on Gambian authorities to drop trumped-up charges against Portsmouth father of three Andrew Charles (Charlie) Northfield,48, who has been arrested in The Gambia for ‘economic crimes’.

Mr Northfield is a mining engineer who travelled to The Gambia in October 2007 to manage Carnegie Minerals plc’s mines in that country. Carnegie Minerals plc has operated mines in The Gambia since 1999, digging mineral sands which are then exported to China for use in construction. The company has insisted it has always operates within the terms of its licence.

On 15 February 2008, Gambian authorities charged Mr Northfield and Carnegie Minerals plc with economic crimes relating to alleged understatement of the value and content of mineral exports between 2006 and December 2007.

“That Mr Northfield has been charged with offences alleged to have commenced 10 months prior to his appointment as a mining engineer with Carnegie Minerals plc shows how shaky these charges are,” said Fair Trials International (FTI) Head of Legal Team Sabine Zanker.

“Moreover, we are deeply concerned at his treatment by the Gambian authorities. Upon arrest, Mr Northfield was interrogated by police without a lawyer present, and while he has been released on bail, he is unable to leave The Gambia.

“The trial is scheduled to commenced on March 17, 2008. This has left scant time for preparation of a defence. However, his employer Carnegie Minerals plc is providing support for him, and FTI will similarly assist in efforts to secure the dismissal of all charges against him.

“The charges against Mr Northfield fly in the face of commonsense and all available evidence. He should be released and allowed to return to the UK and his family,” concluded Ms Zanker.

For comment, contact Sabine Zanker on 020 7762 6400 or 07762 923 519

Further information and a photograph of Mr Northfield are available on our website at http://www.fairtrials.net