Muhammed Bazzi, a Lebanese multi millionaire and business partner of the former President, Yahya Jammeh has said that he would give evidence against the former president in closed doors as he fears for his safety.
Bazzi made these revelations to the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.
Surahata Janneh, Chairman of the Commission told him to make a formal application to request a closed door hearing and the commission will consider whether to grant the application or dismiss it.
A private lawyer, Loubna Farage announced her appearance for the business tycoon who applied to submit oral application which was granted. She submitted among other things several correspondence between her client and former president which she said could threaten his personal safety with his associates. She further spoke about the verbal threats received from the former president that caused her client to leave the country for sometime. She also spoke about her client acquiring documents pertaining to transfers paid to the former president’s account at the Trust Bank Gambia Limited.
Farage submitted that some civil servants working currently under the new government as well as supporters of the former president could collaborate against her client when he makes certain disclosures in public.
“Who does he fear,” Chairman Janneh asked.
Lawyer Farage said her client fears the supporters of the former president may threaten his life.
“The content of some of the documents will support his fear,” Lawyer Loubna Farage submitted.
The Commission’s Counsel, Amie Bensouda told the chairman of the commission that this is the first application of its kind that should not set the precedence, saying she would not be able to respond without looking at the documents. She urged the witness to provide all contracts with the former regime, record of fuel imported in the country, tax records and dividends paid to directors and stakeholders.
Bensouda questioned him about borrowing two ferries from the country’s ports authorities to construct the Gam petroleum Storage Facility at Mandinaring, Kombo north. She also questioned him about acquiring a piece of land belonging to the ports authorities. The borrowed ferries were meant for Barajali crossing points in the provincial part of the country.
Bazzi complains against Momodou Lamin Gibba, former ports managing director, saying those were scrap ferries but counsel Bensouda does not share his views about the ferries which she said were valued by the ports authorities.
Two letters written by him and Manhal to the ports authorities requesting the ferries were shown to him and admitted as exhibits.
Bazzi confirmed the land at the ports was acquired with the intervention of the former president but the counsel said she would like to know how they acquired lease without the ports knowledge.
Meanwhile, former Central Bank Governor Amadou Colley has reappeared for the second time. He maintained that he does not have documental evidence prove the efforts they made on the former president to follow proper procedure to withdraw money from the bank. He agreed it was fraudulent but said he has made several efforts to avoid the situation.
