LamToro News has laid hands on the report of the investigation by the Crime Management Coordinator of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), of the alleged tax fraud of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) under the leadership of Lamin Kaba Bajo, dated 16th July 2018.
Upon completion of the investigation, the Gambia Police Force wrote a letter signed by Superintendent B. SF. Bah, Officer Commanding Admin at the time, to the Clerk of the National Assembly, dated 17th July 2018, informing him that the investigation into the GFF tax fraud has been completed and the case file has been sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers for legal advice.
According to the police investigation, a letter dated 25th June 2018, reference with No. ME: 19/54/02/IV/ (57) was received from the National Assembly Select Committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports instructing the Inspector General of Police to investigate an alleged tax fraud at the Gambia Football Federation.
The police investigation report also disclosed that the facts of the matter revealed that in January 2017, GFF contracted General Procurement Services (GPS) and Idea Ltd, both registered companies in The Gambia to finish and equip the GFF National Technical Training Center (FIFA Goal Project) located at Old Yundum.
“The value of the contracts were Nine million five hundred and ninety-three thousand one hundred dalasis (D9, 593, 100.00) and One million two hundred and seventy-eight thousand six hundred and twenty-four dalasis (D1, 278, 624.00) respectively. As per the contract agreement, the two contracts were taxable, thus making it the obligation of GFF to withhold a 10% tax from each of the contracts which amounts to D959, 310.00 and D127, 862.40 respectively and subsequently pay it to the Government through Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA).
Click on the picture to read the report
However, GFF, instead of withholding the said 10% to be paid to GRA, decided to disburse the entire amount of the contract sum to the contractors in two instalments (70% and 30%) without deducting the 10% withholding tax due to Government as cited in the contract. Further, it was also noted that prior to the disbursement of the final payment to GPS, the then GFF Secretary Abass Bah sent an email to Bakary K. Jammeh, GFF Project Manager and copied the GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo, advising them to withhold the 10% tax due from the contract sum to be deducted. Then instead of deducting the tax due as advised, the project manager wrote to the contractors, asking them to pay the 10% tax due to GRA and subsequently authorized the final payments to GPS. However, both GPS and Idea Ltd failed to pay the 10% withholding tax due to Government,“ the report further stated.
The police investigated and took the statements of Lamin Kaba Bajo, GFF president, Abass Bah, former General Secretary of GFF, Modou Yaya Jallow, Accountant at General Procurement Services (GPS), Lamin Saidykhan, a businessman trading as GPS Ltd, Bakary K. Jammeh, Project Manager GFF, Abdoulie Jallow, 1st Vice President GFF, Ebou Faye, 2nd Vice President GFF, Borri Darboe, Chairman of National Sports Council, Basadie Jabbi (Idea Works), Kemo Ceesay, Finance Director GFF, Devshi Hamji Gondariya (Shrecji Development Enterprise) and Francis T. Jones (Francis Jones Consultant Associate).
Above is a copy of the full police report of the entire investigation including the witness statements and findings of the police.
