By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh
Ousman Touray, the suspended Chief Executive Officer of the Basse Area Council, who is facing accusations of multiple financial malpractices along with Lamin Suso, the Finance Director, has admitted to signing blank cheques that were then misused by Suso for unauthorized withdrawals, including one for D400,000.
During the ongoing Commission of Local Government Inquiry, Touray confessed to being involved in multiple questionable financial transactions along with his former Finance Director, as confirmed by the auditors.
In his statement to the commission, Touray revealed that he used to sign blank cheques, which his colleague Lamin Suso would then fill with any amount and make withdrawals.
During the testimony, Mr. Touray mentioned an incident where the former Director of Finance, Lamin Suso, requested a loan of GMD 400,000 (four hundred thousand dalasi) from the council. However, according to him, he refused the request.
Touray explained while he travelled to the United States for a UN Conference, Suso went to Vista Bank and made an unauthorized withdrawal. Mr. Touray said he informed the Chairman, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and others about this incident.
He explained that there was a Zoom Meeting held regarding the withdrawal, and it was where the Director of Finance informed them that he had the cheque for the past seven (7) months and did not cash out the money. He said the withdrawal was done on 23rd March 2023, some months after the System Audit.
Commissioner Joiner then told Touray that signing a blank cheque is like signing your death warrant, and Touray answered in the affirmative.
“Is that prudent? After all these years of service,” Commissioner Joiner asked. “No,” Ousman Touray replied.
“You left 9 signed blank cheques with the Director of Finance,” Commissioner Joiner asked. “Yes,” Ousman Touray replied.
“How influential was Lamin Suso on you?” Commissioner Joiner asked.
“I don’t have answers to this. Most of the time when he brings cheques to me and I sign it, it is only later that I realize that what I did is a risk,” he told the commission.
Ousman further denied Lamin Suso’s testimony that he used to pre-finance council activities.
In a blunt revelation, Touray said that the Basse Area Council’s account went ‘red’ when Lamin Suso was appointed the Director of Finance. He revealed that Suso could not even produce a financial statement for the council.
Both Touray and Suso are currently under suspension by the Basse Area Council pending an investigation into their multiple allegations of financial malpractice.
