Earlier on Monday, Amadou Badjie testified that two other consultants were each given D1, 468, 178.56.
The witness was testifying in a corruption case involving health officials of the government. The accused persons are: Muhammadou Lamin Jaiteh, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, Balla Kandeh, Programme Manager of the Malaria Control Programme and Omar Malleh Ceesay, Executive Director of the Health Promotion and Development Organisation (HePDO).
The witness stated that he was familiar with Muhammed Sissoko and Basirou Phillot (consultants) before they met, but that he made payments between 2018 and early 2020 in their names by issuing cheques. He added that multiple payments were made in their names.
When asked how he made payments to Muhammed Sissoko and Basirou Phillot since he had never met them, the witness responded that when the cheques were prepared, Lamin Jarju, former deputy programme manager of the National Malaria Control Programme consultants were called and informed that the cheques were ready.
He added that Lamin Jarju would come and pick the cheques from their (witness) office. He added he (witness) would ask for the cheques be sent to him as an alternative. He said this because Jarju was the one coordinating the project as he was the subject matter specialist.
The witness further said he issued the cheques to Sissoko and Phillot because there was a signed contract between the two individuals and HePDO and on the contract, he said there were payment schedules.
He added that a specific date was not indicated for the payment to be due on the contract but there was a period that the study should be conducted.
The witness narrated that when there was inflow into their accounts, he used to get notifications and he would go to the executive director (2nd accused) and inform them that there was money in the account and he would then prepare payment vouchers in the names of the consultants.
He continued that the cheques would be then taken to the executive director to sign as the first signatory and to Balla Kandeh (1st accused).
The case was adjourned until 20 May 2024.
