Mustapha ABE Sarr, responsible for collecting trade license fees, confessed during an inquiry led by Deputy Counsel Sunkary Camara at the Local Government Commission of Inquiry (LGCI) that he misappropriated funds over different periods between 2021 and 2022.
Sarr admitted that he used the money because he was expecting some funds from family members then when that came he would use it and repay the council’s money.
When pressed on whether he reported the missing financial records, Sarr admitted he had not filed any reports; he had continued handling trade license fees but did not always submit them to the council.
His actions went undetected due to a lack of consistent audits. When asked whether he had been audited during the periods he withheld funds, he replied "No."
Despite owing the council D324,000, he had so far only repaid D25,000, depositing D20,000 on November 11, 2024, and another D5,000 on November 24, 2024.
Further investigations revealed that Sarr took a one-year leave of absence in March 2023 to contest in elections. During this period, he continued receiving his salary despite not officially resuming work.
It further showed he also received overtime payments and took a salary advance during the 2021 Tobaski period.
He later claimed to have returned to work without any responsibilities, simply visiting the office to see friends. When questioned, he stated that he did not resume revenue collection or market sales exercises and his salary his was later stopped.
The commission has now requested his 2023 salary pay slips to verify how much he continued receiving despite his absence from work.
Sarr admitted his actions were unlawful and that he had not sought permission from any authority before misusing the funds.
