By Fatou Sillah
Sergeant Adama Jagne of the Mechanical Services Agency (MSA) in Kotu testified on Thursday before the National Assembly Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh.
Sergeant Jagne told the committee that presidential adviser Dou Sanno took possession of a brand-new tractor from the MSA prior to the official auction of government vehicles.
When asked by Lead Counsel Lamin Dibba whether anyone else had arrived at the MSA before the auction to inspect vehicles, Sergeant Jagne said it was Dou Sanno, who expressed interest in the tractor.
“What was his interest?” counsel Dibba asked.
“He requested for a tractor, and he went with it, a brand-new tractor,” the witness replied.
Sergeant Jagne stated that Dou Sanno personally identified the tractor and sent someone the following day to collect it. He clarified that no formal sale had taken place at the time, as the auction had not yet been conducted.
“I cannot say he bought it because the auction did not take place that time,” Sergeant Jagne said.
He further explained that Mr. Njie handed over the tractor to him in his presence and that he is still in possession of it.
When questioned by the lead counsel about why he allowed people to move vehicles in and out of the premises before the auction, Sergeant Jagne said he was initially instructed by Mr. Saidybah and Commissioner Darboe not to permit any vehicle to be removed. However, upon Mr. Njie’s arrival, he was informed that Saidybah had directed him to allow it, as Njie had been sent by the Janneh Commission to value the vehicles.
“Why did you allow Dou Sanno to take the tractor without evidence?” Counsel Dibba asked
The witness replied that when the tractor was handed over to Dou Sanno, he informed Saidybah, who instructed him to allow it.
“How they gave it to him, they are the ones who know, but I know in my presence there, he did not buy it; he just drove it and went. I did not see any receipts, and it was before the auction,” he said.
The witness stated that he did not personally sell any vehicles or vehicle parts in Kotu. He explained that he purchased a tractor from the Janneh Commission at the Sukuta Health Center and later resold it.
He recounted that during the evaluation, he sought the consent of Alagie Kurang and expressed his interest in the tractor at the Sukuta Health Center.
“He told me that you are moving with us, and on the day we are selling it, you can come with us. I went with them. They gave their first price; I think 10,000. Somebody paid 20,000, the other one paid 25,000, and I paid 35,000, so they rang the bell at 35, and somebody said 37,000, and I said 40,000. They asked me to pay, and I paid, and I was given a receipt,” he testified.
He further stated that two days later, over the weekend, he took the tractor to Kotu for maintenance. There, someone showed interest and purchased it for 120,000.