By Mama A. Touray
Vista Bank Brikama Branch Manager, Abdoulie Saidykhanon Wednesday testified before the ongoing Local Government Commission of Inquiry saying Lamin Susso, the Finance Director of Basse Area Council (BsAC) withdrew D141,000 from the council fund at Vista Bank.
Manager Saidykhan in his testimony when he appeared before the LGCI last Wednesday explained that there were two occasions that the Director of Finance, Lamin Susocame to the Vista Bank Branch to carry out financial transactions for the BsAC.
In his narration, he said “On the first transaction, LaminSuso withdrew D141,000 from the Basse Area Council account. On the second transaction, Lamin Suso came with a Fifty Thousand Dalasi (D50,000) cheque to make withdrawals from the council’s account. And, during the process of withdrawal, the bank received a call from BsACCEO, Ousman Touray, who claimed that he did not authorize the withdrawal”.
Mr. Saidykhan told the Commission that the call from the CEO of Basse Area Council was made to the Relationship Manager who in turn related the information to him, as the Branch Manager.
He added that this was how he came to the teller instructing them to stop the payment to Mr. Lamin Suso.
“At the time the money was already debited from the account and the CEO already received the SMS, but the cash was not given to Mr. Suso at the time,” he said.
He testified that the transaction was terminated and the bank system reversed it. Adding that Mr. Suso asked the bank officials why the transaction was canceled, he said he told Mr. Suso to call his CEO – Mr. Touray because he claimed that he did not authorize the withdrawal.
“When I told him to call the second signatory, he [LaminSuso] left,” the witness told the commission.
“The CEO came purposefully to collect the D50,000cheque. I told him that we gave the cheque to LaminSuso,” the witness said.
He informed the Commission that CEO Touray also claimed that he could not remember signing the D141,000cheque which was previously withdrawn.
Mr. Saidykhan went on that he conducted a search in the archives and traced the transactions. He said the transaction for the D141,000 was made on 22 September 2022.
“He [CEO Touray] told me that the signature on top of the cheque is mine, but he cannot verify the one below. He said the [signature below] looks similar to his signature,” Saidykhan said.
He testified that he asked the CEO why he did not make the query on time after receiving the SMS alert. “The CEO did not answer. He stood there [at the bank] for a while and left,” he told the commission.
Deputy lead Counsel, Patrick Gomez, asked the witness “At what point do you conduct verification?” Manager Saidykhan responded, “At the teller’s point”.
The witness continued that verification with the account holder is done when the amount is above fifty thousand dalasis (D50,000) and Counsel Gomez was quick to ask “Was that done in the D141,000 transaction?”
“I am sure that must have been done by the head of operations at the branch. For every transaction above D50,000 the head of operations will call the account holder,” the witness answered.
“Was it done in this transaction? ”Lawyer Gomez asked and the witness responded, “Yes, it was done”.
Counsel Gomez further asked. “How was the verification done?” The witness responded, “The Head of Operations called the Relationship Manager and the Relationship Manager called the account holder to verify”.
On his relationship with Suso, the witness said LaminSuso used to call him frequently seeking help “He calls me when he needs a favor,” the witness said.
“On how many occasions did he ask for your help?” Lead Counsel Cox asked and the witness responded “On many occasions in 2022”.Vista Bank Branch Manager speaks about unauthorized BsAC financial director transactions at Vista Bank