By Binta Jaiteh
Assistant Inspector General of Police Demba Sowe on Wednesday updated Parliament’s Committee on Finance and Public Accounts Committee on the list of people found to have committed fraudulent activities in all sectors.
It could be recalled that, on 29 September 2022, the committee sent resolutions tasking the Auditor General, Accountant General, and the Inspector General of Police to provide the list of people who are found to commit fraudulent activities in all sectors and give the latest on prosecutions or repayments.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police Demba Sowe representing the Inspector General said on the resolution mentioned they have looked at it but they had an issue as to the timeline to act upon.
He said with regards to the Brikama Sub-Treasury, the suspect is one Musa Trawally but they were meant to understand that as to the investigation process, Musa Trawally made payments of all his liabilities at the treasury.
“Another matter was the Gambia Immigration Department and the case was investigated and completed, as we speak the matter is before the courts”, he outlined.
He emphasized the matter of the Guinea Bissau Embassy, in which a staff call Baba Gomez was implicated in a case. Before the investigation, they realized through the family that he was late and that no position was taken as far as the investigation is concerned.
According to him, the other case occurred at the Ministry of Justice involving one Matarr Sillah, Yusupha Cham, and Seedy Jammeh, the case was investigated and a file wassent to the Accountant General’s Chambers for legal advice.
He noted that another matter involved the Ministry of Health regarding Kanifing General Hospital, the suspect is one Muhammed Conteh adding that the investigation is completed.
“The National Environment Agency case involves one Muhammed Denton, Omar Jobe and the investigation is also completed”, said Sowe.
He told the committee that another matter that was completed is the case of the Gambia Ports Authority, the suspects are Raki Bah, Binta Sallah, Kumba Sarr, Sohna Bojang, and Yandeh Mbenga, and the investigation is completed.
Furthermore, at the level of NYSS, the suspect is Emmanuel Mendy and that investigation is also completed. The Ministry of Finance case has to do with Abba Sanyang and Pa Modou Joof, the investigations are completed and it is with the Accountant General’s Chambers for legal advice.
Fraud Squad Officer Buba Ceesay indicated that KerewanSub-Treasury and Janjanbureh Sub-Treasury issues were raised earlier on during the committee meeting at the accountant general’s chambers but because they were reported way back before 2013 they could not trace them in their records.
The Chairman of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee, Honourable Alagie S. Darboe asked GPF to update on the resolution which directed that the Executive Director of the NDMA must account for all undelivered food items worth over 100 million dalasi, on or before the 25th September.
Serious Crime Unit Officer Sanusi Darboe replied that on this particular resolution, there is no specific inquiry because the office of the IGP is not in receipt of this resolution query against NDMA.
However, the office of the IGP is currently investigating the audit report on COVID-19 in which there are undelivered food items.
“As part of the investigation, progress reports are written on that and submitted to the office of the Vice President. The investigation is divided into four phases which are procurement of food items, distribution of food items, procurement of medical items, and payment to front-line officers. Currently, two of the phases of that investigation are completed”, he explained.
“We are investigating the third phase which is the procurement and distribution of medical items and the fourth phase will come in due course”, he remarked.
However, the committee chairman Alagie S. Darboe urged the police headquarters to investigate the other resolutions and report back on 31st of October 2024.