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Gambia News : Cmc Dibba Gives More Evidence in Willy Joof's Trial

Continuing his evidence-in-chief, in the ongoing trial of William John Joof, the ex-Gambian Ambassador to France, the Crime Management Coordinator of the Police force, Commissioner Burama Dibba, said he headed the team of investigators into the matter through correspondence with Interpol in France. On Wednesday, March 19, CMC Dibba told the court that on 14 September 2007, he left Banjul for Paris to investigate into the purported complaints by Mr. Gerrard Nuss.

He said he went to the Gambian embassy in Paris where he met one Moses Jallow (PW1). He collected documents from the embassy which includes, letters, speed tickets issued by the French Police, Insurance document from the insurance company in Paris. CMC Dibba stated that he informed the embassy that he wanted to interview Mr. Gerrard Nuss. Dibba indicated that he began his investigation with his French Police Counterpart, named Jeanpierre. Commissioner Dibba noted that he went to the French Police with the speed ticket to know why it was issued to William Joof. He asserted that the French Police showed him their records that the 607 Peugeot car was registered in the name of William Joof. CMC Dibba stated that he went to the insurance company with the insurance renewal notice; that the company also showed him their records indicating that the car was insured in the name of William Joof, the Gambia ambassador to Paris. CMC Dibba added that he went to the garage where the said car was purchased; that he inspected their records and found out that it was purchased in the name of William Joof, Gambian ambassador to France.

"I requested to see the car, but they said the car is with Mr. Michael Coancas. I asked them where to find Mr. Coancas, but they don't want to answer to that, so I left," said Dibba. CMC Dibba said he went to the UNESCO building to find out whether Mr. Michael Coancas's had an office there, as he was a member of the permanent delegation there. He said he later found out that Mr. Coancas had his office at his own compound. He said he tried on several occasions to see Mr. Coancas but to no avail.

Going further, Commissioner Dibba indicated that he got some bank papers from the embassy which were open in Dollar and Euro accounts. He added that the accounts were opened in the name of the permanent delegation to UNESCO. He noted that he went to the bank and they showed him their records; that he saw in their computers that the only person to access that account was William Joof and that the accounts were opened by him. CMC Dibba stated that there was no money in the Dollar account and that he found out that 15,000 Euros were paid in the Euro account. He said that the account had been over drawn, but that the records showed he had paid in money to offset the amount over drawn and had closed the account before he left.

He said he questioned Moses Jallow, the Charge d' Affaires, about the account, but he denied having access to it.

CMC Dibba said while he was in Paris, he invited Mr. Garrard Nuss to the embassy on two occasions to discuss about his complaints, that Mr. Nuss told him that he was asked by William Joof to pay 15, 000 Euros before he could be appointed as the Gambia's honorary consul to Paris; that he also paid 160,000 French francs to Mr. William Joof for the facilitation of official documents before he could be appointed as a consul. CMC Dibba said he returned home on 6 October 2007, with all the documents certified.

When the DPP asked Dibba whether he had any receipts as to the payments made by Mr. Garrard Nuss to the accused person, the defence counsel L.S Camara objected to it on the grounds that the question is leading and suggestive. Camara insisted that leading questions can only be allowed in cross-examination and not in evidence-in-chief. The state counsel, E.O Fagbenle, also argued that the question was not a leading one.

The trial Magistrate, Kayode Olajubutu overruled the defence and allowed the question to be answered by CMC Dibba.

Mr. William John Joof, the ex-Gambian ambassador to France, was dragged to court by the state, for alleged official corruption, abuse and stealing. His charges are up to 11 counts. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.