Witness Describes Cash Delivery in Luxury Bag as Court Hears Testimony in GACH Global Fraud Case

The High Court of The Gambia has admitted into evidence the sworn testimony of Khadijatou Kebbeh, a central figure in a civil fraud case involving Gach Global Trading Company Limited and an alleged D58.9 million fuel transaction.

The suit, before Justice Jaiteh, names Ms. Kebbeh as the first defendant and Saihou Drammeh, the former managing director of Gam Petroleum, as the second. Gach Global alleges that the defendants were involved in a scheme that resulted in significant financial losses tied to fuel supplied on credit.

In a detailed written statement adopted by the court, Ms. Kebbeh outlined her role in a fuel deal that she said ultimately collapsed, alleging that the disputed funds were converted into foreign currency and delivered in cash to Mr. Drammeh.

According to her testimony, a payment of D58,965,150 was first deposited into an account at Kuringo before being exchanged into United States dollars and euros. Ms. Kebbeh told the court that employees of Kuringo brought the cash to her residence, where she prepared it for delivery.

“I packed the money into a Louis Vuitton duffle bag and toiletry bag,” she stated, adding that she instructed her younger brother, Harouna Kebbeh, and a driver, Mbye Ceesay, to deliver the money to Mr. Drammeh at his home in Brufut.

She testified that the handover took place in the presence of witnesses, including Abdoulie Saine and Ibrahim Jobe, and that Abubakary Jawara, the owner of Gach Global, later traveled to Mandinary to personally confirm with Mr. Drammeh that the funds had been received.

Ms. Kebbeh also described events following Mr. Drammeh’s arrest in November 2021, alleging that he and members of his legal team urged her and her family not to implicate him. She said they assured her that a fuel vessel was waiting to dock at Mandinary and that Gach Global’s losses would be offset once supplies were replenished.

In her affidavit, Ms. Kebbeh stated that Mr. Drammeh and his then lawyer, Badou B. S. Conteh, described the case as a “witch-hunt” and pressed her to omit his name from her initial police statement.

“They told me not to mention the second defendant’s name,” she testified. “They said it was all a witch-hunt against him, and that he was innocent. I believed him.”

She further alleged that Mr. Conteh tore up her first written statement in the presence of a police officer because it referenced Mr. Drammeh, a claim that has not yet been addressed in court by the defense.

Ms. Kebbeh told the court that her understanding of the transaction changed during the course of the police investigation, when she discovered that a purported “Dubai supplier” involved in the deal did not exist. She testified that Gach Global ultimately received fuel worth D32.7 million through Jah Oil, leaving an outstanding balance of approximately D26.2 million.

She alleged that the Jah Oil transaction was arranged by Mr. Drammeh and paid for in cash—using U.S. dollars and euros—by his legal representative.

According to her testimony, Mr. Drammeh later attempted to settle the remaining debt by offering property documents for land in Dakar, an offer she said Mr. Jawara rejected. She also referenced a D1 million payment allegedly made through her uncle to the police, which she said was declined for being insufficient.

Ms. Kebbeh further claimed that, acting on Mr. Jawara’s instructions, she made additional payments to Mr. Drammeh, including $221,000, €749,965, and $240,000.

In closing her statement, Ms. Kebbeh said she had not personally benefited from the transactions and warned that she was being positioned as a scapegoat for losses she did not cause.

“Unless this court intervenes,” she stated, “I will be punished for a wrong I do not partake in.”

Gach Global is seeking recovery of the outstanding sums, including $221,000 for petroleum products, commissions, and D1 million in legal fees. Proceedings are expected to continue with the cross-examination of Ms. Kebbeh.