Ex-GRA official staff convicted for economic crime

One Alieu B. Kolley, a former employee of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), was recently convicted and sentenced by Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court in Banjul.

This followed the convict’s own plea of guilt on charges of economic crime, conspiracy to commit a felony and stealing by public servant to fraudulent accounting.

According to the information of the charge sheet on count one, Alieu B. Kolley, between February 2012 and July 2013, at Banjul intentionally diverted D2,637,212.77, being the monies received from taxpayers, into his private use, an act detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.

It was further revealed on count two that the accused had conspired with Lamin K. Fofana, Fatou Phatty, Ebrima Cham, Saikou Ceesay and Mama Jammeh, between February 2012 and July 2013, at Banjul and diverse places to defraud the Gambia Revenue Authority, the total sum of D2,637,212.77.

Count three of the charge sheet revealed that the accused Alieu B. Kolley, with five others, between February 2012 and July 2013, stole the total sum of D2.637,212.77, being the monies received from taxpayers and belonging to the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA).

The charge sheet further revealed in count four that Alieu B. Kolley between February 2012 and July 2013, at Banjul, being an employee of the Gambia Revenue Authority with intent to defraud deleted the entries of payment made on the GAMTAXNET system to conceal his fraudulent mischief.

In handing down his judgment, the presiding judge described the act of the accused as barbaric and wicked, saying the accused corruptly and dishonestly diverted monies meant for the state into his private use.

In passing the sentence, the convict was ordered to pay D1,200,000 as compensation to the GRA, in default to serve five years in prison.

The convict was further sentenced to pay D100,000 (one hundred thousand) on each of two counts of economic crime, in default to serve another two years in prison.