By Landing Ceesay
During the ongoing corruption trial involving officials from the Ministry of Health, Muhammed Sissoho, appearing as the Fourth Prosecution Witness (PW4), testified in court about his involvement in withdrawing over one million dalasis
The accused individuals from the Ministry of Health are Mr. Balla Kandeh, the Programme Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP); Mr. Omar Malleh Ceesay, the Executive Director of the Health Promotion and Development Organization (HePDO); and Mr. Muhammadu Lamin Jaiteh, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
They stand accused of embezzling and misappropriating a significant sum of D24,313,332.26 (Twenty-Four Million, Three Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Dalasis, Twenty-Six Bututs) during their time in office. Additionally, they are alleged to have stolen USD 59,256.00, equivalent to D3,901,829.83 (Three Million, Nine Hundred and One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Nine Dalasis, and Eighty-Three Bututs).
Muhammed Sissoho identified himself as a businessman involved in the trade of motor parts and land sales. He testified that he was familiar with all the accused individuals during his interactions at the Gambia Police Force Fraud Squad.
During questioning by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) AM Yusuf, Mr. Sissoho confirmed his acquaintance with Bashiru Philot and recalled meeting him at Lamin Jarjou’s office in Kanifing. Lamin Jarjou, now deceased, held the position of Deputy Program Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) at the Ministry of Health.
“How did you come to know Lamin Jarjou?” DPP Yusuf asked Mr. Sissoho.
“In 2013, one of my friends introduced me to him. At that time, they were giving out mosquito nets to the people,” Mr. Sissoho told the court.
Apart from 2013, Mr. Sissoho told the court that he met Lamin Jarjou in 2015, and in 2019, they had dealings.
“What kind of dealings did you have with Lamin Jarjou in 2019?” DPP Yusuf asked Mr. Sissoho.
“One day, I received a phone call from Lamin Jarjou requesting to see me. He told me that he had a contract, but he usually gives the contract to the Senegalese. He said most of the time the Senegalese will not complete the work, will not pay the workers, and will abscond with the money to Senegal. He said he wants to do the job himself so that he can secure the money. He asked me to do a favor for him. Because he will not have time to go to the Bank and withdraw the money. He wants me to do that for him.
“During that period, that was the time Bashiru Philot came there, and that was the first time I came to know him. What he (Lamin Jarjou) explained to me is the same thing he explained to Bashiru Philot by helping him withdraw the cheque from the Bank. After two days, he (Lamin Jarjou) called me and said he wanted to see me in the evening. He asked me to go to his office the next day at 10 a.m. When I arrived at his office, he gave me a cheque from the Access Bank,” Mr. Sissoho told the court.
Mr. Sissoho testified that he inquired of Lamin Jarjou whether the check he handed over might pose any issues. In response, Lamin Jarjou chuckled and assured him that there would be no problems. Subsequently, Mr. Sissoho recounted that he accepted the check from Lamin Jarjou and proceeded to the bank to withdraw the funds.
“I withdrew the money and went back. I forgot the actual amount; I can’t remember. But the first cheque was about five hundred and something thousand dalasis. When I brought the money to him (Lamin Jarjou) I told him that let’s count the money for accountability purposes. We counted the money, and he confirmed it for accountability purposes. That was the time he removed D20, 000 and gave it to me. But before I received the money, I asked him whether this would not cause problems or end well for me to take. He laughed and said there was no problem,” Mr. Sissoho told the court.
Mr. Sissoho stated in his testimony that Lamin Jarjou took a blank piece of paper, wrote on it that he had received money from me, and then I signed the paper.
Furthermore, Mr. Sissoho informed the court about how Lamin Jarjou passed him the second cheque to facilitate a withdrawal from the bank.
“The second one, he (Lamin Jarjou) told me that he had a guest that was supposed to go back to the provinces, and he was at the bus station at Kanifing and asked me to meet him there. I went there, and he gave me a cheque from Access Bank in a brown envelope. I went to Access Bank and withdrew the money. That one is also five hundred and something thousand dalasis I can’t remember the exact figure.
“He (Lamin Jarjou) asked me to meet him opposite the pipeline Mosque on the road to the Independence Stadium. I met him in his car and gave him the money. He confirmed it and gave me D20,000 again. Then he left, and I also left. He called me for the third time. He asked me if I could meet him at Iceman, he was going to buy medication for someone. I told him that I was in Latrikunda German around the big tree at the mechanic garage, and I was busy. He begged me to help him because he was supposed to pay workers in the provinces, and if that day passed, it would be difficult for him. I told him that I was also busy,” Mr. Sissoho told the court.
Mr. Sissoho asserted that Lamin Jarjou told him to take a taxi and meet him where he was, and then he took a taxi and met him where he was.
“Then I met him (Lamin Jarjou) and he gave me a check for around six hundred and something thousand dalasis I can’t remember the exact figure. I told him that if you have this contract, why don’t you go to the Bank yourself? He told me that the Banks are always full of people, and he is always busy and he can’t be queuing in the Bank. Then I went to the Access Bank and withdrew the money. I informed him that I withdrew the money, and he told me that he was driving towards Pipeline Mosque. I met him and gave him the money in his car. I asked him to confirm it; he confirmed it and gave me D20,000 again,” Mr. Sissoho told the Court.
During his testimony, Mr. Sissoho recounted that Lamin Jarjou requested a favor, asking if they could journey together to the provinces. This request arose as Jarjou’s driver fell ill, and the alternative companion designated for the trip was occupied with field duties.
Mr. Sissoho clarified that his role was not to drive Lamin Jarjou, but simply to accompany him, as Jarjou was unwell at the time.
“The next day, I met with him (Lamin Jarjou) at Buffer Zone. Then we crossed to Farafenni hospital, and he told me to wait for him in the car. He spent some time in the Farafenni hospital. I locked the car and told one of the security officers that I was going to drink green tea. In Farafenni, he bought a cooler and placed it in the car. In short, we left Farafenni to Bansang; he had a bag just like a school bag but is bigger than a school bag,” Mr. Sissoho told the court.
Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh then adjourned the case to 25th of March 2024 for continuation.