His testimony also revealed how council resources were diverted for private use, implicating senior officials in potential misconduct.
Kongira, who has been a mechanic since 2003 and confirmed in his role in 2013, is responsible for examining breakdowns and informing others. However, he admitted he does not keep official records.
Kongira was questioned by Deputy Counsel Sunkary Camara about servicing the deputy mayor’s personal vehicle, specifically an engine replacement. He confirmed that the work was done but clarified that he did not personally handle it. Instead, he explained that the job was outsourced on contract because he was busy working on council trucks.
When pressed about claims that he made D1 million from the engine replacement, Kongira denied knowledge of the cost and stated he was merely instructed to facilitate the process. He further revealed that since he is unable to read and write, he relied on Lamin Conteh, the third-in-command at the Works & Services Department, to prepare procurement requests on his behalf. Despite this, he signed off on a request for the Deputy Mayor’s vehicle, allegedly under the CEO’s instructions. However, he said the request he submitted did not include a price.
The mechanic also admitted that similar services were provided for the CEO’s private vehicle, including maintenance and part replacements, but he could not recall the costs involved.
Beyond the misuse of funds for private vehicles, Kongira also testified about the controversial modification of three council trucks that had been left to deteriorate for eight years. He recommended that the council dismantle one truck and use its parts to repair the other two. The council later contracted a welder, Omar Cham, for the job.
However, concerns arose over what happened to the remaining scrap metal. Kongira revealed that CEO Mustapha Batchilly had an agreement with the welder that the leftover scraps would be his as part of the deal. This arrangement raises questions about accountability and whether proper procurement procedures were followed.
The chairperson of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Jainaba Bah questioned why the trucks were left to rot for years without repair. Kongira defended himself, stating that he had reported the problem and submitted requests to the council, but the decision-making process took time. He added that he did not formally request procurement approval for scrapping the truck but had verbally explained the situation to the director, who later referred him to the CEO.
The testimony also highlighted a lack of proper documentation and oversight in council operations. Kongira admitted that he does not keep records of his work, making it difficult to track expenditures or verify repairs. He also acknowledged that the abandoned trucks had been sitting unused for years before any action was taken, despite his recommendations.
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