According to Judge Michael Gledhill QC, Bojang was the ringleader and was seen as a "father figure" by the others.
Staff at The Gambian Diplomatic Mission ordered more than half a million 50g pouches of tobacco. The seven staff, who did not smoke, sold much of it -
cheating the UK out of almost £5 million in VAT and excise duty for period more than three years.
Judge Michael Gledhill QC at Southwark Crown Court said this to the diplomats:
"You were each sent to London to
represent your country and you were certainly expected, as diplomats, to
maintain the highest possible standards of integrity and honesty.
"Second, the UK was entitled to expect that you would respect
and comply with the laws of this country. You have breached that trust
as well."
All seven diplomats were earlier found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the revenue. Th deputy head of the mission Yusupha Bojang, 54, was jailed for seven years; first secretary Gaston
Sambou, 48, was jailed for six years; finance attache Ebrima John, 38,
was jailed for six years; and welfare officer Georgina Gomez, 29, jailed
for five years. Embassy workers Veerahia Ramarajaha, 54, Audrey Leeward, 49,
and Hasaintu Noah, 60, were jailed for three years each. Ramarajaha was
also convicted of dealing, harbouring, concealing or carrying dutiable
goods.
They will all face deportation once they have served their
prison sentences. Bojang's lawyer Dean Armstrong suggested they
could face "serious consequences" if they were sent back to Gambia.
He said the government there "gives tough penalties to those who transgress".
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