KMC’s Market Manager Gives Evasive Answers to Questions about Deposits Made in His Account by KMC Staff

Modou A. Njie, the market manager for the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) on Wednesday, 2 October appeared before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry. He was questioned about financial transactions he made and other transactions in his private bank account made by staff of the KMC. He gave evasive answers to all of the questions regarding transactions in his account.
Testimony:
Modou A. Njie said he used to get money from his transport business. He stated that he had 2 drivers in 2018 and 2019, while after that, he had 5 drivers.
He testified that he got his first vehicle in 2015. He added that he later purchased a Benz 190 for D78,000 from a garage, it was purchased from Dr Lang Ceesay in 2018, which he used as a taxi for 2 years. He stated that 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 witness provided transfers of ownership of vehicles for the vehicles he claimed were his. The Certificates of Transfer of Vehicle Ownership were made in the name of Baboucar Njie. The witness said Baboucar Njie is his brother, and the transfers were made in that name because he had the intention to travel. The witness said he had the intention to travel in 2021 and 2022, and that was the reason why the vehicles were in the name of his brother. Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez asked him about the level of his preparedness at the time of making the transfers in his brother’s name. The witness said he only had it in his mind. He was told that the previous transfer in 2020 was in his brother’s name, and at this time, he did have the intention to travel. The witness quickly changed his statement 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, and the witness said he did take the receipts. This means his claim is that he only paid for the vehicles and did not request receipts.
“I don’t have receipts,” he said.
He was asked to explain where he got the money to purchase the vehicles. The witness said he applied for a building loan from KMC, and it was approved on 13 March 2018 by Jaja Cham the Chief Executive Officer of KMC. The amount was Two Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D200,000). At this time, the witness was an Assistant Market Manager. He provided the document, and it was admitted in evidence.
The witness said he also collects rent from three properties in three locations – Serrekunda, Pipeline, and Kotu. He added that he takes 10% from the payments for the properties in Kotu and Pipeline while he does not take anything from the property in Serrekunda. He later changed to say London Corner instead of Pipeline. He said D180,000 is what he collects from the property in Kotu, while for the others, people pay Serrekunda – D3500 for the 3 rooms and parlor while the single rooms pay D500.
The witness provided some documents to show “acknowledgment” of receipt from him. He said people used to send him money to perform transactions for him.
Lead Counsel Gomez asked him about the deposits by KMC staff. Alagie Jitteh, an employee of the KMC working in the municipal police unit, deposited D310,000 in the Trust Bank account of the witness.
He was asked for the source 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 the witness 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. The witness replied that he does not have access to the funds of the Council.
“I don’t have access to the Council funds,” Njie said.
“That is false. Some vouchers were in your name 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,” Lead Counsel Gomez told the witness.
Counsel Gomez told the witness that the evidence before the Commission is that he used to make claims for refunds for expenses without providing receipts that he actually did the pre-finance.
“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,” the witness said.
The witness said his drivers bring him money every week. He added that he also receives money from people to perform certain transactions for them. He testified that he kept all the funds in his accounts.
“Why don’t the drivers deposit the money in your account?” Gomez asked.
The witness said he preferred to receive the money from them. He added that the drivers pay the chief driver, who brings it to them.
“I decided that the chief driver should bring me the money,” Njie said.
“Why?” Counsel Gomez asked.
“I decide it that way,” the witness answered.
“Why?” Gomez asked.
“The reason is best knowing to me,” the witness said.
“Why?” Counsel Gomez asked again.
“There is no reason,” the witness answered.
Lead Counsel Patrick Gomez took time to ask the witness each of the deposits in his account by Alagie Jitteh. In each transaction, the witness was not able to provide an explanation by saying “Counsel, I cannot remember.”
“The monies that were deposited were coming from the taxis, the rent, and from the people who trust me to carry out some transactions for them,” the witness said when Counsel Gomez insisted on knowing the sources of the monies deposited in his account by some staff of KMC. It was noted that some people under him in the same office used to make deposits in his account.
“Sir, I can recall where the monies are coming from, but I cannot recall the exact dates,” the witness said.
“Explain who gave you the money you sent people to deposit in your account. Tell us about the money because it is within your knowledge,” Gomez said.
Counsel Gomez said he would provide the dates to the witness based on the statement of account from the bank, and he is expected to explain the sources. As the Counsel commenced listing the dates, the witness stated that he could not remember the sources.
Counsel Gomez asked for the records he kept for the money he had been receiving from his chief driver. The witness said he does not keep records of how much the chief driver brings to him.
“You have records of monies you give to people, but you do not have records about what people who give you money,” Gomez said.
“Yes,” the witness answered, adding, “I can recall that I received money, but I cannot recall who gave me.”
He was asked about the D12,000,000 loan given to the staff association of KMC by AGIB Bank. He said it was acquired by a few members of the staff welfare association without the knowledge of some other executive members. The witness said at the time he was the Social and Welfare Secretary of the association. He added that he went to the office of Treasurer Baboucarr Sanyang and saw a photocopy of the application for the loan on behalf of the association. He explained that he read it and asked the treasurer about it. He said when the treasurer confirmed to him that they had applied for a loan, he decided to call the former CEO via WhatsApp as she was out of town, but she did not pick up. He added that he proceeded to inform the mayor.
“What prompted you to report the matter to the office of the Mayor
The witness said they were in office for 7 years without annual general meetings, and the staff were becoming agitated. He added that the staff compelled them to resign except the Vice President and the Treasurer. He did not directly answer the question.
He said the matter was reported to the Fraud Squad
Gomez, before concluding with him for the day, asked some questions about his take home from the vehicles. The witness said he has 2 drivers from 2018 to 2020, and from that period to now, he has 4 drivers. He added that each of them is paid a D2500 salary, including the Chief Driver. Njie said he pays all his drivers in cash. He added that he gives their payments to the chief driver, who in turn pays the other drivers. Njie said he does not know the other drivers or their names.
“It is the chief driver who did the appointment of the drivers,” the witness said.
The witness said he has an official driver appointed by the Council.
The witness was also asked about some of the audit findings against market masters and mistresses working under him. He said there are so many issues uncovered by the Commission that were not known to him. One of the issues was the cash shortages and audit queries against the market masters and mistresses working under him.
The witness was asked about his salary, and he stated that he used to receive above D18,000. He was given his bank statement to state the salary payments in his account. It was noted that the salary he mentioned was above because he was receiving less than that. At this point, he came up with a claim that he was servicing loans he took from the bank and also the Council.
Commissioner Oreme E. Joiner told the witness that the last loan deduction or repayment was made in January 2020. He added that there was no deduction after this. The witness could not say anything when this fact was placed before him because he was also having his statement and reading from it. The Commission requested him to provide his loan details.
The witness was asked about the audit query about market masters under him re-using ticket books that were not supposed to be used. He said he was not aware of that audit finding. He added that he did not see the audit report beforehand. This finding was contained in the 2021 audit report for KMC.
He was discharged. He will be recalled to discuss the issues in detail.
“We will recall you soon to discuss the issues in detail,” Chairperson Jainaba Bah told the witness.