Modou A. Njie said he used to get money from his transport business, stating that he had two drivers in 2018 and 2019, after that he had five drivers.
He testified that he got his first vehicle in 2015, adding that he later purchased a Benz 190 for D78,000 from Dr Lang Ceesay in 2018, which he used as a taxi for 2 years. He said he purchased another vehicle for D65,000 from Makumba Sanyang before his final purchase of a 7-passenger vehicle for D175,000 in late 2022 or early 2023.
The certificates of transfer of vehicle ownership, which he provided to the Commission, were made in the name of Baboucar Njie. The witness said Baboucar Njie is his brother, and the transfers were made in his brother’s name because he had the intention to travel around 2021 and 2022
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked him the level of preparedness at the time of making the transfers in his brother’s name. Njie said he only had it in mind. However, it was raised that the previous transfer in his brother’s name was in 2020.
He dramatically stated this time that the transfers were done in his brother’s name because “he is a family”. Lead Counsel Gomez asked for the receipts for the purchase of the vehicles, but Njie said he did not take receipts.
He was asked to explain where he got the money to purchase the vehicles. In response, he stated that he applied for a building loan from KMC, which was approved on 13 March 2018 by Jaja Cham on behalf of the CEO. The amount was D200,000. At this time, the witness was an assistant market manager.
Witness Njie said he also collects rent from three properties in Serrekunda, Pipeline, and Kotu, adding he takes 10 percent commission from the payments for the properties in Kotu and Pipeline. He later said it was London Corner instead of Pipeline.
The witness provided some documents to show “acknowledgement” of receipt from him. He said people used to send him money to perform transactions for him. At this point of hearing, the lead counsel asked him about the deposits by KMC staffs. Alagie Jitteh, a KMC municipal security personnel, who deposited D310,000 in the Trust Bank account of the witness.
He was asked for the sources of the funds, but he said he could not tell the source because “these were monies coming in and out.” Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez told him that he should account for the monies deposited in his account. Counsel Gomez told him that he was dealing with council funds as he was making requests for refunds when he could not provide evidence of payment or receipts. “I don't have access to the Council funds,” Njie responded.
“That is false,” the counsel expressed. “There are vouchers that were in your names requesting payments that you do not have evidence for. You do not have receipts to show that there was pre-financing as you called it.”
“All the monies that Alagie Jitteh deposited were given to him by me. To prove to you or explain the sources, I cannot do that,” Njie maintained.
He repeated that his drivers bring him money every week and that he also receives money from people to perform transactions for them. He testified that he kept all the funds in his accounts. Pressed further by the lead counsel as he continued to bombard him with questions, the witness did not provide the specific sources of the monies, saying he could not remember.
