Minutes of BsAC committees were tampered with – Witness

Saikou Omar Garry, was the councillor of Baja Kunda Ward in Basse Administrative Area from May 2018 to May 2023. He told the Commission that BsAC’s CEO in 2018 was Muhammed Lamin Jaiteh, who was later replaced by Ousman Touray in 2019, while the finance director in 2018 was Baboucar N. Kanteh, who was also replaced by Lamin Suso in 2021.

His written statement along with other documents - audit reports by the finance and accounts sub-committee, vouchers from the director of finance, his resignation letter from the audit and finance sub-committee, a letter from the Ministry of Lands and Regional Governments to Lamin Suso, amongst others – was admitted into evidence.

The witness said he was a member of the Development Committee, Education Committee, Taskforce Committee and Child Friendly Committee. Deputy Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez suggested that the committees were not functional, but the witness said the Development Committee was somehow functional.

Mr Garry said the Development Committee comprised 4 members and the secretary was Ebrima Danso, who was the custodian of the minutes of the meetings. He accused the secretariat of the council of tampering with the minutes of the committees.

He also accused them of not having a proper record-keeping mechanism, adding that the minutes of the meeting of the committees were mixed up at the council. Garry added that the reason for tampering with the minutes of the meeting was because some individuals were mentioned by the committees.

The former councillor provided 6 reports by the Development Sub-committee, which included Assessment Report, Community Needs Report and Monitoring Report.

“The reports sometimes implicate the management and so, they tamper with the reports,” he said.

“Who are you referring to as the management?” Counsel Gomez asked.

The witness said he was referring to the CEO, Ousman Touray; director of finance, Lamin Suso, and chairman, Foday Danjo.

He testified that their reports were normally discussed at the General Council, adding that the first report was adversely against Gourgi Kandeh, the development officer, regarding his incompetence.

He added that the report also highlighted discrepancies in contracts awarded by Gam Works to contractors.