The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Assan Jallow has denied reports of telephone insults to the process server at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial dealings of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates.
The Permanent Secretary appearing for the first time before the commission was questioned by Lead Counsel, Amie Bensouda about his alleged telephone insults but he repeatedly denied insulting the Process Server at the Commission.
“I did not insult his mother,” Permanent Secretary Jallow said.
Mr Jallow said he does not insult people, saying the Process Server called him at late night around midnight as a result he could not sleep after talking to him on the telephone.
The Agric PS was summoned in connection to the Japanese grants but failed to produce certain documents requested from him.
The Commission’s Counsel, Amie Bensouda told the commission that the witness failed to furnish certain information as requested but added that the witness said he thought the commission was going to contact the records office to get the said information.
At this juncture, Surahata Janneh, Chairman of the warned the witness about the powers of the commission to deal with witnesses, saying if he fails to produce the said information the commission would deal with him.
Counsel Bensouda told Chairman Janneh that the commission would need all the closed files regarding the Japanese grants from 1998 to date, list of Japanese aids, accounts of all the proceeds from 1998 to date, all contracts signed with Kanilai Group International KGI, reconciliation of supplies made to KGI, and amounts paid by KGI into the Central Bank Account and any other relevant document.
At this juncture, Chairman Surahata Janneh issued an ultimatum to the witness until March 20, 2018, to submit the documents required by the commission and was told to liaise with the secretary of the commission if he has any excuse.
Meanwhile, Ms Isatou Auber, former Secretary to Cabinet failed to appeared before the commission after she was served with a summons.
She was summoned in connection to the payment of D7 Million Dalasi to MRI. Counsel Bensouda urged the Commission Chairman to warn the witness, noting that a bench warrant will be issued if she fail to appear on Thursday.
