Embattled Fisheries minister James Gomez is under fire yet again for alleged abuses of power after he was accused of freeing a Senegalese trawler that was detained for illegal fishing without a license. 

The trawler, Fatima, was seized on Friday by the Gambian navy working with Sea Shepherd, an international maritime agency, on Gambian territorial waters without. 

It was alleged that following the arrest of the trawler, the minister of Fisheries James Gomez ordered the release of the trawler without further actions. No reason was given for the release. 

The minister has declined to comment on the incident. 

Last month an investigation by Malagen, a Gambian newspaper, uncovered widespread corruption and abuse of power at the Fisheries ministry which implicated the minister and his permanent secretary Bamba Banja. 

Mr Banja was put on administrative leave as The Gambia police investigation the corruption allegations.