A Lebanese Businessman, Tony Ghattas has testified before the commission of inquiry set up to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.
Tony Ghattas after taking oath told the commission about his business, Ghatson Company Limited.
Lawyer Sheriff Tambadou announced his appearance for the business man.
Tony disclosed to the commission that he worked with the Carnegie Mining Company, a Australian mining company operating in the Gambia before its mining license was terminated by the former government. He said he also worked with GAMICO mining company that replaced Carnegie Mining Company. He was later appointed as the Managing Director of Alhamdulillah Petroleum and Mining Company after GAMICO’s license was terminated by the former President Yahya Jammeh.
“I was working on the transportations and exportations of the containers loaded with mineral sand,” Tony Ghattas said.
The former president’s business partner said he was assigned by the office of the president to sent 119 container loads of heavy sand minerals which was left by the GAMICO Mining Company at the Banjul Seaport to China. He was paid a commission of $5 dollars per ton of mineral sand for the services provided by his company Ghatson Company Limited. He spoke about a contract with Shanghai Mining, a Chinese company.
Mr. Ghattas was ordered to provide the record of shipments.
Tony Ghattas explained how he was appointed as the Managing Director of Alhamdulillah Petroleum and Mining Company by the former president through General Saul Badjie, a former State Guard Commander. He claimed that he has never worked at the Alhamdulillah Petroleum and Mining Company’s office at the Standard Chartered Building. He work with his staff at the Ghatson Company Limited.
“I refused to use their office and did not take any of their items,” Tony Ghattas disclosed.
He added: “My operational instructions came from General Badjie.”
Tony Ghattas said he has turned down the salary offered to him as Managing Director of Alhamdulillah Petroleum and Mining Company.
Mrs. Amie Bensouda, Counsel of the commission put to him a dollar account that was opened at the Guaranty Trust Bank which he was the sole signatory excluding the other accounts opened at different commercial banks. He confirmed he was the sole signatory to that account. He was a co signatory to the Dalasi accounts.
“Almost 200 containers of heavy sand minerals was ship to China,” he said.
Tony was questioned about the £43,000 Pounds and $6000 Dollars withdrawn from the account which he said was a request made to him by General Saul Badjie. He said the request was made at the time General Badjie was at the provinces. The money he said was collected by a lady working at the office of the president but he will not be able to recognize her.
He was further questioned about the sum of $270,000 paid to Ghatson account. He explained that $150, 000 was paid to his business partner to negotiate with the Chinese company. He also explained the payments of $20, 000 dollars twice to settled fuel bills of the government while he was in Senegal. He said those were requests made to him by General Badjie but there were no signatures or invoices for the payments.
Several documents were admitted and marked as exhibits relating to his financial transactions including D5 Million request made by General Badjie.
Meanwhile, Tony Ghattas confirmed being a shareholder to businesses incorporated in three West African countries including the Gambia, Senegal and Mali respectively. The matter was adjourned to thursday, August 24.
