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Gambia News : In Willy Joof’s Case, PW1 Ends Testimony

Moses Benjamin Jallow, Prosecution Witness (PW) 1 in the ongoing trial of Willy Joof, former Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday concluded his testimony before Magistrate Kayode of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

Continuing his testimony under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr Jallow told the court that the only document he had seen with regard to the termination of Mr Gerrard Nuss was the Note Verbale. He added that he had no exact idea of the date when the terminations of appointments of Mr Michael Coecas and Gerrard Nuss were effected. He said that all he saw was the instruction given by the accused to UNESCO, indicating that the two no longer form part of UNESCO Permanent delegates for The Gambia.

Mr Jallow further testified that he was posted to the Gambian Embassy in France on 15th September 1998. He said he knew the accused in The Gambia prior to his appointment as Ambassador to France, adding that the accused was the Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs.

He also revealed that he had not seen any duty waiver with regard to the vehicle, noting that as the Charge d’affaires he would have seen the document or the receipt with regard to the Peugeot 607 vehicle. He however conceded that he could not remember the registration number of the said vehicle. Mr Jallow maintained that Mr Nuss paid money to the accused for the post of Gambian Honorary Consul to France, adding that some 50,000 euro was transferred to Mr Joof’s personal account to that effect.

It would be recalled that the accused, Mr Willy Joof, has been standing trial on eight-count charge of official corruption, obtaining goods by false pretence, stealing and conspiracy to commit felony and abuse of office.

Hearing continues today.