By: Arret Jatta
The Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI) on Tuesday ordered the immediate arrest and detention of one-time KMC CEO Jaja Cham at Mile II for allegedly assaulting KMC procurement officer Sarata Jaiteh over her testimony to the LGCI.
“We called back this witness. She testified sometime in her capacity as a procurement officer in relation to some transactions that she witnessed in her capacity. We have received a complaint. She gave a statement to the investigators on the 7 November 2024, regarding the fact that she was attacked in her office by the then acting CEO Jaja Cham when she testified before the commission with respect to procurement programming issues that she was asked before this commission and she provided answers in that line,” Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez stated.
“After hearing her statements, we think it is a very serious matter that the commissioners should be aware of and that is why we called Madam Sarata Jaiteh to hear from her,” he added.
In her narration, Ms. Jaiteh said: “In the morning when I was just entering the office at the corridor, I met with Mr. Jaja Cham. He told me I heard that you and your former boss testified before the commission yesterday. I told him yes. He asked me what did I say. I told him you have been appearing before the commission and I have never asked you what you said, so if you want to know what I have said, you can go and watch it on television but I will not tell you what I said.”
She further told the commission that Cham later came to her office at around 12:00 pm to threaten her.
“I went to my office and I was there until around 12:00pm in the afternoon when Mr. Cham pushed my office door openand he came in and started insulting me. He told me that I’m a wicked person, and that I’m a liar and that he will destroy me for going to the commission and mentioning his name,” Saratafurther narrated.
She explained to the commission that Jaja Cham had earlier attacked her when she visited the Commission’s investigators.
“I think he was called. So when he went there, he came to the office and told me that he and Sheriff were called before I was called, and they told the investigators that they knew nothing about the said payment, regarding Kanjura’s trip to Senegal but that when I was called, I told them that both of them [Jaja and Sheriff] knew everything and I told him yes,” said Sarata.
She added that she had been attacked by Jaja on three occasions.
“That was his first attack and the second one was the following day of my appearance in the morning and the third one was in the afternoon around 12,” she said.
After her testimony, Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez read out the offences, relating to judicial officers.
“A person who attempts wrongfully to interfere with or influence a witness in any judicial proceeding, either before or after he or she has given evidence or in connection with such evidence, commits an offense and is liable for conviction to imprisonment for a term of three months and maximum six months imprisonment,” he pointed out.
The Chairperson of the commission, Jainaba Bah, ruled that:“Upon application by counsel and having listened to and having heard the witnesses, I hereby order for the immediate arrest and committal at Mile 2 central prison of Mr Jaja Cham. And you, Jaja Cham, will appear before this commission on the 14 November 2024, at 10, 30am to show cause why you should not be prosecuted. I make no further orders.”
Meanwhile, Jaja Cham is the KMC’s director of administration.