By Arret Jatta
Karamo Ceesay, Councilor for Talinding South on Wednesday told the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI), that certain documents were missing from his office due to certain reasons.
He said this at the Commission holdings at Djembe Hotel, Kololi while he was asked to tender the minutes from the Development Ward Meeting and he tendered the minutes of 2018 only.
“Mr. Ceesay this is from 2018 or…,” Lead Counsel Gomez asked Counsilor Ceesay.
“Yes it is supposed to be from 2018 to 2023 but there are certain events that happened in my office and some of the records for 2020, 2021, and up to 2023 are missing. Other documents, too, are missing from my office due to certain events that happened there,” he said.
The witness was asked again by the Chairperson of the Commission, Ms. Jainaba Bah, what events the witness was referring to.
“Prior to the Mayoral election, some group of women broke into my office (WDC), we had a confrontation and the issue was reported to the police I was arrested and detained for 3 days. During my detention, my office was also vandalized by the same group. In in 2024, if I can remember around February, my office was attacked by PIU officers. I think there was a particular group that was having an activity there but it was more likely a political issue where my office was attacked again and lots of items were destroyed,” the witness further explained to the commission.
He was later asked about an exercise that took place in the council that involved 26 councilors.
“There was an exercise, I think it is about 26 councilors that took part in this exercise, this was in August 2018, if you can recall the amount of D260,000 was paid altogether for this exercise that is said to have taken place, do you recall this,” Lead Counsel Gomez asked Councilor Ceesay.
“Yes, it is been a while I did not go through the report because my laptop was stolen, I think that was in 2018. A lot of information is there that is related to my Ward Development Committee activities projects and then some of my committee activities at the KMC level,” the witness added.
“Did you report the issue of the stolen laptop to the police,” Counsel Gomez asked.
“No it was not reported,” he replied.
“Was there any reason?” Lead Counsel questioned again.
“No, because at that time, I was so busy, and reporting it to the police to track them would be difficult,” he responded.
The witness also told the commission that they heard lots of rumors about fraudulent acts committed by their staff at the council, where they do this act with a scheme called under the table.
“For example, in a case like where they collect D100,000.00 instead of them depositing the whole money, they will withhold D2,000 from the hundred thousand and deposit the sum of D98,000,” Counselor Ceesay explained.
The witness was later released till further notice to continue his testimony.
