Finance Director Lamin Suso allegedly received a total sum of D118,750 from the revenue collectors of the Basse Area Council, according to the witness who testified before the Commission.
An audit report mentioned the revenue collectors who gave the Finance Director collected revenue. They include: Lamin Manneh, Sulayman Bah, Muhammed Suso, Sorrie Sillah, Soma Jallow, Ba Samba Jawneh, Manku Manneh.
Muhammadou Lamin Keru, the witness who testified yesterday, stated that all of these people, except, Muhammed Suso and Bassamba Jawneh, were under him
“Muhammed Suso was under rates by then,” he said, adding that Bassamba Jawneh worked briefly under him this year.
“For Lamin Manneh, the auditors found that he had given money to finance director amounting to over 53,000. Are you aware of that?” Deputy Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked the witness.
“I am aware of 9,000. That was in my presence, but the rest I heard about it after the audit report,” the witness responded.
However, for Sulayman Bah (D11,500) and Muhammed Suso, the witness said he was not aware until after the audit process.
For Sorrie Sillah and Soma Jallow, [who gave the finance director] 16,220, he said he was aware.
The witness asked when the Director of Finance started work at the Basse Area Council, and he said it was since 2021.
“So most of these would have happened in 2022 and 2023,” the deputy lead counsel put to the witness.
He agreed.
Proceeding, Counsel Gomez asked: “But my question now is, how come you only heard of these during the auditing process? How come you were not aware of your own staff I can call them; the people directly under you; giving money to finance director until the auditor has to come and audit?”
In his response, the witness stated that these were not done in his presence. Asked whether the monies were given to the finance director in his absence, he said there was a time he had been taken out of that position. That was in March 2022, he said.
He said he was then made an accounting assistant, adding he was later reinstated. Counsel Gomez asked him to provide the document of his reinstatement, but he told the Commission that it was only verbal.
At this point of hearing, Commissioner Oreme E. Joiner interjected and asked the witness what his role was as supervisor of revenue collectors?
“Well, I should make enquiries and forward them to council,” the witness answered.
“Now what about the revenue that they have collected? What do you do? How do you supervise?” Commissioner Joiner further asked.
“Well, when they come normally, I check their books against their paying slips, because every Thursday they should come for reconciliation.
“So from Monday to Thursday you don’t do what you do on a Thursday? You don’t supervise their collection on a daily basis?”
The witness affirmed, saying they don’t supervise on a daily basis.
Commissioner Joiner continued: “Now, let’s take Lamin Manneh’s position. You said you are aware of Lamin Manneh giving 53,000 to the finance director. You knew before the audit.”
The witness confirmed doing so.
When asked what he did, in response, he said he forwarded the matter to the CEO and the finance sub-committee. He testified further that they held a meeting and the issue was raised.
“But you did not put it in writing that this money should have been paid in the bank and was never banked?” the commissioner asked.
The witness testified that he did not, proceeding to admit failure on his part.
