Corruption Galore-Missing Millions at GPTC
By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-Chief
For the past week our reporters: Njie Khakatarr, Pateh Kinteh, and Kissy Kissy Mansa have been investigating perhaps the most outrageous corruption scandal The Gambia has ever seen; The Missing Millions at GPTC.
Jammeh takes the third oath of office as President of the Republic of The Gambia.Chief Justice Abdou Karim Savage in legal regalia. First Lady Madam Zeineb Jammeh looks on.
We can now report that at a minimum, $10 Million US Dollars (over 87 Million Dalasis) remain unaccounted for. According to high ranking police sources and NIA agents, the scandal at the GPTC is so complex and the money is so enormous that it is difficult to know exactly who to identify as the culprits. There have been two aircraft engines that were seized after Air Dabia was grounded and taken to the GPTC Depot at Kanifing. However, once Babanding Fontanka Sisokho, the dubious Malian gold digger had ran afoul of the dictator and fled to his native Mali, his assets were frozen and seized by the State. Among the seized assets were two aircraft engines kept at the GPTC Depot because the MD Mr. Momodou Jange is believed to be a close confidant of President Jammeh. One of the engines was reportedly sold to Slok Air; a Nigerian operated business at $5 Million US Dollars. Highly placed sources have told our reporters that of the $5 Million, Madam Zainab Jammeh, Gambia’s First Lady, misappropriated D3 Million Dalasis, (Gambian Currency) for a shopping spree to the Middle Eastern state of Dubai for the President’s festive birthday celebrations. D11 Million was used for the July 22nd Celebrations, while the rest was used as President Jammeh's travel allowance to Iran and Venezuela, as well as other political activities.
Zainab Jammeh
Tales of Missing Engines
Police sources also say that investigations into GPTC’s malfeasance have shockingly revealed that the other aircraft engine seized from the defunct Air Dabia also valued at $5 million US Dollars or thereabout, had since disappeared. “No one from GPTC can tell our investigators who may have taken the engine from the GPTC Depot”, Police investigators say. “More worrisome” reveals our sources, “is that three- MAN-Bus engines valued at over $60,000 US Dollars are also unaccounted for and, who may have taken them is anybody’s guess.” There is also the Sum of D5 Million dalasis reportedly missing from the corporation’s coffers to which a well respected Gambian joked “maybe, the Dirimos (possums) at Kanifing pilfered the D5Million into their burrows but the engines could not have possibly fit.” However, Kissy was able to gather contradictory information that, infact, the second aircraft engine was also sold at $5 Million US Dollars at the instruction of President Jammeh. It was from this $5 Million that the First Lady allegedly misapproatedly the D3 Million spent on the Dubai trip. According to Kissy, unlike other corporations, no heads are expected to roll at the GPTC even after police conclude their investigations because President Jammeh and his family are at the center of it all. “To blame MD Jagne alone would be pure scapegoating” states Kissy.
Moreover, other Government officials involved is this dubious scandal and all other related nefarious activities will be revealed in due course. We are also investigating Her Excellency Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy after a tip-off that she was bribed with a Presidential villa by Jammeh as part of the deal to keep her in office. The Villa was constructed by The Gambia government for the recently concluded African Union Summit and for any official to convert one as her personal property, is frankly the height of folly. If you want to resign please go ahead and do so but, to threaten resigning only to be compensated with a villa costing millions of tax payers’ money is ridiculous especially, for a Madam who poses as a dove in the glare of TV cameras. What a shame Madam? The Gambia Echo has a robust news distribution network across the country and nothing escapes these days.
Editor’s Note: The editorial team of The Gambia Echo Newspaper extends to all our readers and people around the world a very happy Eidl Fitr Prayers. Following the sighting of the moon last night, we in North Carolina observe Eid today, Friday October 12, 2007. Our correspondents Njie Khakatarr, Pateh Kinteh and Kissy would surely be at State House to bring us live coverage. We hope this time the Imams will speak truth to power!!