The Tax Commission on Friday continued sitting at the high court premises in
Established in November 2011 by President Yahya Jammeh, the commission of inquiry looks into tax evasion and other corrupt practices of accountants, legal practitioners, companies, and private persons, medical practitioners and institutions required to pay tax to the Gambia Revenue Authority.
The commission is also mandated, among other things, to ascertain the extent of loss of public revenue resulting from non-payment of capital gains tax, personal income tax and sales tax; and to determine the role of individuals, groups and professional bodies in the evasion and avoidance of tax.
It will also enquire into professional malpractice by members of the public as it relates to obtaining goods through widespread issuance of false and dud cheques and other malpractices by members of professional bodies as these have affected foreign direct investment in The Gambia.
One Kebba Nyimasata Darboe told the commission that he sold his property to one Lamin Touray for D1 million on 11 June 2009, and paid capital gains tax.
He said he declared D 1 million, but was assessed on D550, 000, and paid D82, 000, adding that he obtained the property from his mother as a gift.
Mr. Darboe further revealed that his mother also got the property from the alkalo of Bakoteh, and that he had leased the land, before tendering photocopies receipts of payment of capital gains tax and the lease document.
He said he sold his land situated at Kanifing in 2009, for D200, 000 after he acquired the land from the Ministry of Local Government and Lands in 1982.
He said he was assessed at the GRA on capital gains tax to be paid, and copies of his receipts and the lease document were tendered.
Momodou Salieu Jallow, a resident of Nemakunku village, said he bought a plot of land situated in Kotu for D150, 000, which had a small structure and the dimensions were 4 X 7 meters.
He tendered documents of the land, which he obtained from Boule Financial Service, and had paid capital gains tax.
The managing director of Boule Financial Service, Charbel Elhaj, told the commission that he sold the property to Momodou Salieu Jallow.
He added that the land was given to him by the
He sold the land for D150, 000, and had paid capital gains tax.
He said he was assessed on D120, 000, and paid D20, 000 before tendering a copy of the title deed.
Wilson Emmanuel Able Thomas told the commission that he is a farmer, and knew one Lamin Touray, to whom he sold the property situated in Manjaikunda.
He said he got the property from an individual some time in the 1990s, for D6, 000 and sold it to Lamin Touray in 2007.
It was an empty piece of land sold for D100, 000.
He said his documents were not with him at the commission, and that he was not aware that he should pay capital gains tax.
Pa Camara Sumbundu, a resident of Latrikunda German and a businessman, told the commission that he knew one Ebrima NJie, who sold the land to him in 2005 situated in Kotu, for D4.8 million.
The dimensions of the property are 42 X 150 meters. It was an empty piece of land, and had paid capital gains tax, he added.
The seller Ebrima Njie, also a resident of Latrikunda German, told the commission that he knew Pa Camara Sumbundu, and admitted selling the plot of land to Pa Camara Sumbundu.
He said he acquired the said land from the
He said he charged D15, 000,000 but the buyer said he could pay D8.5 million, and they also agreed to pay tax, for the empty plot of land.
