The Health officials and lawyer Lamin LS Camara
By Landing Ceesay
A Gambian police investigator has revealed how authorities recovered over D4 million allegedly misappropriated from Global Fund aid meant for the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP).
Corporal Sheriff S. Corr, a member of the Fraud Squad, testified in court that the money was retrieved from the Health Promotion and Development Organization (HePDO), a sub-recipient of NMCP funds. He explained that HePDO returned the funds in installments after investigations confirmed they were not used for intended purposes.
Continuing his testimony, Corporal Corr elaborated on how these funds were recovered during their extensive investigations.
“During the last proceeding, you told the court that over D4 million was recovered. Can you tell the court how this D4 million was recovered?” Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) AM Yusuf inquired.
Corporal Corr responded, “When it was confirmed that these amounts were spent on the studies, HePDO took the responsibility, and the monies were brought in different amounts.”
“Who brought these monies in different amounts?” DPP Yusuf further questioned. Corporal Corr.
“It was brought by the second accused (Omar Malleh Ceesay) and his Finance Director, Amadou Kujabi. But in some cases, Amadou brought some money alone. And some amounts were from the two consultants (Muhammed Sissoho, and Basiru Phillott),” Corporal Corr told the court.
Corporal Corr detailed that the funds were deposited on three separate occasions at the Central Bank of The Gambia, with receipts issued for each transaction. However, only copies of the deposit receipts were available to them, as the originals were retained by the treasury department.
“The original deposit receipts are with the treasury department, we only have copies,” Corporal Corr testified.
“It was brought by the second accused (Omar Malleh Ceesay) and his Finance Director, Amadou Kujabi. But in some cases, Amadou brought some money alone. And some amounts were from the two consultants (Muhammed Sissoho, and Basiru Phillott),” Corporal Corr told the court.
Corporal Corr detailed that the funds were deposited on three separate occasions at the Central Bank of The Gambia, with receipts issued for each transaction. However, only copies of the deposit receipts were available to them, as the originals were retained by the treasury department.
“The original deposit receipts are with the treasury department, we only have copies,” Corporal Corr testified.
During their investigation into the studies, Corporal Corr informed the court that he couldn’t recall the exact number of individuals they had interacted with. However, he stated that they had engaged with a minimum of four to five individuals in each region.
Corporal Corr asserted that these individuals had confirmed receiving payment for their participation in the studies.
Regarding the statement provided by the second accused person, Omar Malleh Ceesay, Corporal Corr testified that he had assisted him in drafting it. When asked if he could recognize the statement, Corporal Corr affirmed and indicated that it contained his particulars.
The witness was then presented with the statement, and he confirmed it as the one he had guided Omar Malleh Ceesay to write.
“This is the exact statement I guided the second
