By: Haddy Touray
The Voice has confirmed that the Director of Gulf Platform International Recruitment Limited-The Gambia, Julianah Afonnwo, was not arrested by the police contrary to a media report that she was arrested after scamming Gambians out of millions of Dalasi.
Speaking during a recent press conference organized by the recruitment agency to debunk the report, Madam Afonnwo said the article was a figment of someone’s imagination intended to soil the reputation of Gulf Platform.
She told reporters that she was never arrested as reported but invited to Brusubi police stationfor questioning in connection to an allegation that she took money from certain individuals on the promise of securing them visas to travel abroad but never did.
The Gulf International Recruitment Platform boss said when she went to the station, she explained to the police that she never obtained money from the complainants.
“I told the police that some of those complaining owed Gulf International some money for completing their visa processes,” she stated.
According to her, she was allowed to go home after showing the police the visas and explaining her side of the story, adding that she was released after two Gambians deposited their IDs at the station to vouch for her.
Mrs. Afonnwo informed journalists that she was subsequently invited to the police HQ in Banjul on a similar allegation but was released after explaining the matter to the investigators. She explained that she was released as the investigation continued.
She stated that Gulf Platform Recruitment-The Gambia is a registered company that operatesin The Gambia and beyond. The platform, she went on, was registered in 2001 and beganoperations in 2002, adding that since it started operations, Gulf Platform was never found wanting of any wrongdoing.
Madam Afonnwo further explained that the UAE-based Gulf International Recruitment Platform serves as an intermediary between those who want to travel abroad and the company with which they sign contracts. The platform, she continued, focuses on the recruitment of drivers and security providers to ensure decent jobs for youth and to discourage irregular migration.