Sowe, who was responsible for maintaining the cash book, was suspended on September 25, 2018, over claims of fund suppression. An audit report alleged that D172,000 was unaccounted for, while the 2018 National Audit Report indicated a suppression of D678,540 in funds that were not deposited.
Following his suspension, Sowe travelled to Qatar. When questioned, he acknowledged the audit findings but denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the missing D172,000 was due to an audit query and an error rather than misappropriation. He claimed he was not given the opportunity to verify or respond to the discrepancies before the report was finalised.
“I went to the council to clarify that the D172,000 should be properly checked because I have receipts of deposit. However, I was not informed of how or where the error emerged,” Sowe stated.
He also alleged that standard audit procedures were not followed, as he was not given a draft report for verification before the final version was issued. This, he claimed, resulted in his suspension without a proper chance to defend himself.
Regarding his handling of market revenue, Sowe insisted he followed banking procedures, making daily and monthly deposits with proof. When asked if he ever held onto revenue for an extended period, he firmly denied keeping money for more than a day.
Despite his suspension, Sowe maintains that the allegations against him stemmed from procedural errors rather than deliberate misconduct.
