By Alieu Jallow
Alagie Jeng, the Director of Finance at the Brikama Area Council, has denied an allegation made by Lamin S. Jatta, the Deputy Director of the Licensing Unit, regarding the purchase of a motorbike for D35,000 in 2019.
Lamin S. Jatta, a revenue collector, bought a motorbike for D35,000 in 2019 from his revenue collections, claiming to have received approval from the Director of Finance. He stated that his actions were aimed at facilitating his movement in communities in the Kombo East District.
In response, Director of Finance Alagie Jeng stated that Mr. Jatta acted on his own authority and provided receipts to the Council.
“He decided to turn the “blunder” into a loan. He admitted that he knew what he did was wrong. I never authorised him to purchase a motorbike. After buying the motorbike, he brought the receipt to me after doing the purchase,” Jeng said.
Jeng testified that Mr Jatta agreed to convert the cost of the motorbike to a loan, which he would repay. Jeng said the witness was given a loan and it was recovered monthly.
However, Mr Jatta denied this assertion, emphasizing that the only loan he applied for was a building loan in 2021, totalling D150,000, through the Council’s Credit Union, which he is currently repaying.
Both of these top officials of the Brikama Area Council appeared before the Local Government Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, 22nd May.
