Former Director-General of Mile 2 Prisons in the Gambia, Mr. David Colley, is likely to face criminal charges as authorities have begun investigating him following his removal from office, sources told our correspondent.

According to our sources, Mr. Colley's home was searched by investigators shortly after his removal, and a tractor was found in his possession, which, it is alleged, belongs to the prison department.

The tractor has since been impounded by government agents.

Mr Colley was also interrogated by the country's drug enforcement agency, NDEA, to explain how Corporal Kalilu Bah, a prison guard who was caught with two bundles of cannabis while on duty, was set free without being handed over to the NDEA officials.

The NDEA, our sources said, suspects Mr. Colley taking the law into his own hands and decided not to hand over Bah for the agency to press charges against him.

Corporal Bah was allegedly detained for two hours before being dismissed without trial.

And according to our correspondent Corporal Bah fled to the neighboring Senegalese province of Cassamace, but was captured by NDEA officers upon his return to his home village in Kiang.

David Colley however told his interrogators that Corporal Bah was released becasue a panel investigating him had so authorszed, but all of the panelist denied ever being consulted. Corporal Bah is in detention awaiting trial.

Mr. Colley was removed from office last Tuesday, and was immediately replaced by former Director - General of the National Intellingence Agency, Major Ma Lamin Jarjou. Unconfirmed sources have said Mr. Colley has been offered a post at Interior Department.

David Colley was found guilty of stealing a generator donated to the Juvenile wing of the Old Jeshwang Prison in December 2007. He was ordered to pay a fine of D3,000. Colley was however acquitted of another charge of stealing D27,000 from the prison department.

The Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who is believed to be related to Mr. Colley, re-instated him to the post in April 2008 after his shameful conviction of theft.

There is however enough evidence suggesting Mr. Colley could neither read or write better than a seven grader.

North Carolina - based Gambian online paper, The Gambia Echo, has chronicled the unhealthy prison conditions in the country, which was blamed for close to a hundred deaths.

Former Inspector General of police, Benedick Jammeh, now heads the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA).