The Managing Director of Trust Bank, Mr. Ebrima Sallah has revealed names of Momodou Sabally, Nuha Touray, Lamin Nyabally and Sulayman Samba as part of the signatories to the Tax Recovery Accounts in different commercial banks.
MD Sallah made these revelations before the Commission of Inquiry set up by the new government to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.
The Commission comprises of three members and is presided over by Lawyer Surahata Janneh.
Mrs. Amie Bensouda, Counsel of the Commission told the witness who spent over 20 years with the bank that the commission is interested in knowing the financial activities of the former president from 1994 to 2017.
The Trust Bank Managing Director was questioned about the Account Documentation of the Tax Recovery Accounts at his bank which he said originated from a letter by the Ministry of Finance to the Secretary General, Head of Civil Service and Minister for Presidential Affairs to open the account in 2013.
“The original signatories to the accounts were Mr. Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General and Mr. Nuha Touray, former Secretary to the Cabinet,” Trust Bank MD Sallah said.
The letter was admitted and marked as exhibit by the commission.
Mr. Sallah then mentioned other signatories who took offices after the former signatories were sacked by the former president, Lamin Nyabally, Kalilu Bayo, Sulayman Samba, Abdoulie Sallah, Isatou Auber and Ismaila Sanyang among others.
The letters to change signatories to the accounts were also admitted and marked as exhibits.
Mr. Sallah disclosed to the commission the details of the accounts saying the sums of D33, 822, 753.88 Million was paid into the account while D29,225,793.77 was withdrawn.
“I have all the documents relating to the withdrawals,” he pointed out.
Mr. Sallah submitted almost 29 debits to the commission that were marked as exhibits.
The Trust Bank Managing Director also revealed that numerous cheques and instructions were also given to the bank to make payments to individuals such as Toni Ghatson, Gayi Enterprise, Sheriff Sawaneh, Alagie Jallow, Sanna Jarju and Ansumana Tamba, former State House Commander among others. Many of the cheques and instruction letters issued for payments were signed by Momodou Sabally, Nuha Touray and successors lately. Some of the amounts payable involved millions of Dalasi.
MD Sallah said it is inaccurate to say only him, Deputy Managing Director and Director of Finance were managing these accounts. He said he does not managed the accounts. He mentioned one Fatou Bah as one of those who managed the accounts.
Meanwhile, he was told to return to the commission on Wednesday, August 16, 2017.
