By Makutu Manneh
Ebrima Saidy, a ‘valued property’ revenue collector with theBrikama Area Council insisted before members of the Local Government Commission of Inquirythat he has deposited the revenue he collected into the Council’s bank account, even though the money could not be traced in the bank statements.
Saidy made this disclosure when he testified before members of the Local Government Commission of Inquiry,who questioned him about the audit report where he is alleged to have suppressed revenue amounting to one hundred and twenty one thousand,and six hundred Dalasi (D121,600).
Saidy told Commissioners that the total amount was one hundred and twenty five thousand Dalasi (D125,000), instead of the amount indicated in the audit report, and said these monies were deposited into the Council’s account, but he did not record them in his cash book.
“Here are the deposit slips. I have all the deposit slips,” the witness said.
However, the deposit slips he provided were photocopies, and he claimed that the original copies are with the Principal Cashier of the Council. The deposit slips the witness provided to the Commission are as follows: Eco Bank dated 2nd March 2020 – D14,400; Eco Bank dated 2nd March 2020 – D7,600; GT Bank dated 12th March 2020 – D3200; GT Bank dated 12th March 2020 – D22,800; GT Bank dated 19th March 2020 – D10,000; GT Bank dated 19th March 2020 – D47,000; GT Bank dated 26th March 2020 – D10,000 and GT Bank dated 26th March 2020 – D10,000.
The Commission gave the witness the bank statement to show his deposits of 26th March 2020, and after checking it repeatedly, he stated that it was not in the account statements.
Saidy said he got the deposit slips from the bank and also agreed that it was not possible for him to deposit the money at the bank and it cannot be traced in the bank statement of the Council’s account.
The only two deposits seen in the bank statement were the 12 March deposit of D22,800 and the 19th March deposit of D47,000. The rest of the deposits could not be found in the account statement.
‘‘The witness testified that monies were not in the account, meaning that no deposits were made,” Chairperson Bah said.
“Yes,” the witness answered.
He was given the Eco Bank statement to check for the deposits he claimed he made, which were not in the bank statement. The witness confirmed this and said: “They are not in the account.”
He blamed the bank for not including them in the account. He was informed that the statements were from the bank, and the bank would be required to appear together with him to ascertain the veracity of his claim.
“Be assured that the bank will come here [before us] and testify together with you,” Chairperson Bah told the witness.
The witness was asked to bring his deposit slips for 2021 and 2022 because he was not recording them in his cash book.
The Commissioners noted that in 2019, the witness was collecting revenue without depositing them in the bank account of the Council.
The witness claimed that they used to pay directly to the Principal Cashier of the Council.
“For the whole of 2019, I used to pay money to the Principal Cashier,” the witness said.
When informed about the testimony of ex-Chief Executive Officer of BAC Mam SaitJallow that the revenue collectors were all instructed to deposit the revenues they collect,at the bank, the witness disputed the claim, saying they were paying directly to the Principal Cashier.
“If the money could not be seen, you please ask the Principal Cashier,” the witness said.
The witness was asked to provide some documents to tender before the Commsson.
Sitting continues.
