Dwelling at Farato, Lamin Jassey is the current acting finance director at Basse Area Council. His testimony last week detailed issues surrounding his appointment, functions and practices during his tenure.
Jassey explained that he learned about the job vacancy through a friend, Alagie Manneh, and applied directly to the Janjanbureh Area Council. He did not get it but later applied for the position of finance director.
He said he was appointed as the internal auditor, a role he claimed JAC lacked at the time.
According to him, his responsibilities included evaluating fiscal transaction risks, approving transactions and verifying claims by vendors through phone calls. He stated that he left after six.
He added that his friend, Allagie Manneh, informed him that he would be vacating his post as finance director of JAC for another job. He later applied to that position and was subsequently appointed as director of finance, even without being interviewed for the position.
He said the Janjanbureh Area Council used to pay between D600,000 and D700, 000 per month. He recalled that in 2021, JAC took a one million dalasi loan from GT Bank to pay staff salary. He said the loan was payable within six months, but the council paid it within three months.
Jassey said D400,000 was paid into his account by the council for the biannual national youth conference also known as the NaYConf. However, although the event was in December 2022 and all the supporting documents were dated December 2023, the requisition form indicated that it was December 2023
The inquiry delved into withdrawals from JAC's GT Bank accounts. Despite being the internal auditor, Jassey was uncertain about details, including his own basic and gross salary. However, he expressed his belief that some of the withdrawals were for salaries. His testimony began to cast doubts.
The witness struggled to explain transfers to ex-CEO Lamin Baldeh and acknowledged violating financial regulations by instructing revenue collectors to purchase fuel, contrary to the law. He admitted making transfers to Baldeh during a period when JAC's account had over D400,000 meant for salary payments.
Counsel Patrick Gomez took over questioning, revealing Jassey's failure to prepare bank reconciliations and financial statements during his 12-month tenure, a serious breach of financial norms. Jassey acknowledged the failure and admitted deviations from financial regulations.
Chairperson Jainaba Bah presented JAC's bank statements, questioning salary payments, and Jassey confessed to bank payments occurring only in February, March, April, and December 2021. Regarding the Vista Bank account, Jassey claimed no knowledge.
Confronted with the regulations in the Financial Manual, Jassey admitted not following financial rules, arguing verbal instructions from the CEO did not comply with the written requirement. Gomez emphasized Jassey's failure in financial reporting and reconciliation, highlighting that the Financial Manual accommodates various systems, yet Jassey failed to comply.
