The Managing Director of Trust Bank, Ebrima Sallah Thursday faced the Janneh Commission to explain the deduction of funds from various accounts relating to the former president and Jammeh Foundation for Peace among other accounts.
Mr. Sallah in his evidence confirmed the deduction of over $100,000 transferred to various accounts, noting that Jammeh was a signatory to all the accounts that funds were deducted and transferred from.
He however told the commissioners that he had not seen the facility letter indicating the terms and conditions of the loan with regard to the Jammeh Foundation for Peace accounts; adding that no correspondence was shown to him and concluded that the document was not at their office.
According to him, Jammeh was the one administering and giving instructions transactions on the Foundation’s accounts and other related accounts
Mr. Augustus Prom Junior also faced the commission with regard to the Westwood Company and told the commission that they have given BPI Tourism Services officials access to the records of Westwood Company for the exportation of timber.
He gave summary of the timber exported by the company from 2014 to 2017 and the total container of timber exported he said, was 13,000 containers valued at $39,084,000.
He also provided the loan agreement between Westwood Company and its other agencies, testifying that the sum of $5million loan was in respect of Ocean Bay Hotel while the sum of$ 2million loan was in respect of Sun Beach Hotel and there was another loan of $500,000.
Mr Prom Junior testified that the said loan agreement was a 3- year grace period with no interest, further stating that the sum of $7,810,115 was paid to Kanilai Family Farms as advance dividend by Westwood Company from the years 2015 to 2016.
Junior Prom also told the commission that he has the tenancy agreement between BPI Tourism Services and Westwood Company and the sum of $40,000 was the annual payment agreement.
Further testifying, he said The Gambia Revenue Authority is claiming the sum of D253, 000,000 from Westwood Company and out of the sum, the company only paid the sum of D70, 000,000 with regard to tax and Maersk Line Shipping Agency is claiming the sum of D11.2 million for the containers used for shipment while GIEPA is claiming the sum of $5million for the warehouse at the airport.
Anthony Panetta, consultant for BPI Tourism Services also reappeared to shed light on the Westwood Company and tendered the memorandum and article of association of the company and other relevant documents and information about the company which were admitted in evidence.
Meanwhile, the commission is in recess till March 19, 2018.
