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Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Lamin Mendy, former Assistant State Guard Commander and Lieutenant Nuha William Jammeh, former Military Police Commander both testify before the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates.
The two former commanders were summoned in respect to payments amounting to millions of US Dollars and GMD Dalasi that they received from the Central Bank on behalf of General Saul Badjie for the former President Yahya Jammeh.
Lieutenant Colonel Mendy said he was stationed at the State House from July 1994 to November 2016. He said he was the second in command and Operational Commander of State Guard Battalion. He added that he is still active in the service.
Lt. Colonel Mendy was questioned about the payment of $100, 000 US Dollars from the Vision 2016 Account at Central Bank of The Gambia.
“I was directed by General Saul Badjie to collect the money,” Lt. Colonel Mendy told the commission.
Mendy confirmed his signature and identity card on the letter directed by the former president to the Governor of Central to received the cash, saying he could not confirmed whether the former president was aware of the payments as he was sent by General Saul Badjie.
Lieutenant Nuha William Jammeh, former Military Police Commander also testified. He claimed to be on study leave pursuing a bachelor’s program at the University of The Gambia. He is resident at Farato.
Lieutenant Jammeh was summoned in respect to 20 transactions amounting to millions of US Dollars and GMD Dalasi withdrawn from the Vision 2016 Account at the Central Bank. He confirmed his signatures and identity card copies attached. The letters were allegedly directives by the former president to the Governor of Central Bank.
“I was ordered by General Saul Badjie who told me to received the money on his behalf for the former president,” Lieutenant Nuha William Jammeh said.
Part of the money withdrawn were $500, 000 US Dollars, $500, 000 US Dollars, $1 Million US Dollars, $1 Million US Dollars, $500, 000 US Dollars, $500, 000 US Dollars, $600, 000 US Dollars, $400, 000 US Dollars, $500, 000 US Dollars, $250, 000 US Dollars, $200, 000 US Dollars and D21 Million Dalasi among others.
Lieutenant Jammeh told the commission that normally General Badjie would asked him to collect the money after talking to the Governor of the Central Bank. The Governor, he said would do all the transactions before he arrived. They would prepared a letter for him to signed as the recipient.
“I make sure the money is escorted to General Badjie’s office at the State House,” Lt. Nuha William Jammeh asserted. He added:”I cannot negate or object the instructions. We followed orders in the military “.
The former Military Police Commander was questioned as to whether there were witnesses to the handing over of money to General Saul Badjie. He could not provide any written evidence but said the General’s Orderlies sometimes witnessed the scenes. He mentioned one of the Orderlies, WO2 Yankuba Badjie.
According to him, the General would physically count the money to confirm.
Meanwhile, Edward Mendy, a State Intelligence Service SIS Officer attached to Office of the President was the next witness to testify before the commission.
Mendy is still working at the Office of the President.
He was summoned in respect of the payment of $300, 000 US Dollars from the Vision 2016 Account at the Central Bank of The Gambia. He confirmed his signatures and identity card copy on the exhibit. He claimed to be sent by General Saul Badjie to the Governor of Central Bank.
It was put to him that the letter he signed was purportedly directed by the former president which he admitted but said he was sent by General Saul Badjie.
“How do we know you gave the money to General Badjie,” Lawyer Bensouda asked.
“I will not lie on oath,” he answered.
Meanwhile, the session was adjourned till tomorrow morning.
