Mayor of Kanifing Municipality Talib Ahmed Bensouda alleged on Monday the chief executive officer of Kanifing Municipal Council illegally acquired a loan in the name of 37 staff and used the money to buy a property.
Freedom newspaper has in past days been writing about Sainabou Martin Sonko that she stole money of up to seven million dalasis.
But KM Mayor Talib Bensouda said on Monday: “Some time in June of this year, my office intercepted financial transactions initiated and entered into by Mrs Sonko. Following investigations with the related banks and parties it discovered that Mrs Sonko entered into illegal transactions without lawful authority to the tune of 12 million dalasis. These illegal transactions were completed with the co-signature of the director of finance Dr Alieu Keita.
“It was discovered that Mrs Sonko acquired a bank loan in the name of the staff welfare association, on behalf of 37 staff without their knowledge or consent. She used these funds to acquire a property which we believe to have been grossly over-valued and she forged council documentation and approvals to obtain a guaranty purportedly from KMC to secure the loans.
“Through our swift intervention, we were able to freeze the accounts in question and recover approximately 7.6 million dalasis. Our swift action and our zero tolerance to graft and corruption protected the public coffers of the council from what would have otherwise been a serious financial loss.
“The actions of Mrs Sonko are very serious and we believe they are criminal in nature, ranging from fraud, tax evasion and theft. Mrs Sonko was confronted in a directors’ meeting of 12th July 2021 wherein she confessed to her actions and apologized to the management team of KMC. Although she has since recanted her position, we have proceeded to complete the investigations and table the matter before the council.
“The council has today resolved to do the following; we have requested that the local government service commission summarily dismiss Mrs Sonko and the director of finance; we have also resolved to report the matter to the Gambia Police Force for an investigation; we have also resolved to place Mrs Sonko and the director of finance on indefinite leave pending the results of the investigations and the decision of the local government service commission.”
Mrs Martin-Sonko did not pick calls by The Fatu Network for comment. She is also yet to respond to a text message for comment.
