The wife of Gambia's former President Jawara has been convicted in the United Kingdom for benefit fraud.
65-year old Lady Njaimeh Jawara was accused of claiming Council Tax reduction and Housing Benefit from Mid Sussex District Council in respect of her Housing Association flat in East Grinstead; and Pension Credits from the Department for Work and Pensions. She was not entitled to these State benefits because she was actually in Gambia on five occasions between 2008 and 2013, for more than 13 weeks each time.
Lady Njaimeh Jawara
Lady Njaimeh Jawara
In May 2010 - while illegally claiming benefits - Lady Njaimeh Jawara, a keen golfer, jetted out to Gambia and donated 10,000 Gambia Dalasi (£160) to the Gambia Golf Association.
The trips Lady Jawara made to Gambia resulted in her being overpaid £9,255 in Pension Credit, £8,848 in Housing Benefit, £1,192 in Council Tax Benefit and £484 in Council Tax Support - totalling £19,779.
She was sentenced at the Worthing Magistrates Court who ordered that she be fitted with an electronic tag for 20 weeks to track her movement to ensure that she does not leave her home between 7pm and 7am during this period.
She is also to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and to pay Mid Sussex District Council’s investigation and prosecution costs of £4,286. She is also required to pay back all the overpaid Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Council Tax Support.
Lady Jawara has been married for 35 years to 91-year-old Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara - a veterinary surgeon trained in Glasgow and Liverpool. After studying in the UK, he returned home to serve his country. In 1954 he was appointed as the Gambian Government's Chief Veterinary Officer, where he was credited with making many improvements to animal health.
He became leader of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), going from Minister of Education to Prime Minister from 1962 to 1970. He was knighted by the Queen in 1966. He played a prime role in the fight for full independence from British colonial rule before he became President between 1970 and 1994. He was re-elected five times before he was ousted from power in a coup in 1994.
He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1988 and bagged a honorary Doctor of Laws from Glasgow in 1990.
He has at least two other wives, as polygamy is widely practised in The Gambia. He converted to Islam in 1965 - ten years after marrying his first bride, Augusta Mahoney, in 1955. He wed second wife - Chilel N'Jie in 1968 and then married Njaimeh in 1970.