By: Sainabou Sambou
In a high-profile economic crime case unfolding at the High Court in Banjul, businessman Alhagie Kebbeh testified in his own defense on Monday, denying allegations that he fraudulently obtained over D64 million in connection with an undelivered rice consignment during the COVID-19 period.
Presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, State Counsel A.M. Yusuf is prosecuting the trial, while defense attorney K. Jallow represents Kebbeh. The accused faces four serious charges: economic crime, theft, obtaining goods by false pretence, and cheating.
Testifying as Defence Witness One (DW1), Kebbeh, a resident of Brusubi Phase One and former Chief Executive Officer of Win-Win Oil Company Gambia Limited, insisted he committed no wrongdoing. He attributed the controversy surrounding the rice supply to a third-party supplier’s failure to fulfill obligations, rather than any deliberate fraud on his part.
Kebbeh explained that between 2020 and 2021, vendors approached Win-Win to facilitate rice procurement for supply to the World Food Programme (WFP), in coordination with the Ministry of Trade. The Ministry had invited small-scale businesses to bid for supplying 1,500 bags of rice each as part of government-financed relief efforts amid the pandemic.
Due to tight timelines, Win-Win engaged the Banjul-based rice dealer, Tony Panna, after the samples were inspected and approved in Dakar. Kebbeh said payments from 39 government-financed vendors went to Win-Win, which quickly transferred funds—often within 48 hours—to the supplier.
“The problem arose when the supplier failed to complete the remaining deliveries,” Kebbeh told the court, leading to a shortfall of 41,404 bags out of 58,500 paid for.
He recounted his July 2023 arrest at home, followed by a month-long detention at Banjul Police Headquarters for questioning. After bail, he reported to the police three times weekly. Kebbeh said he was later summoned to the Inspector General of Police’s office and asked to sign a repayment agreement with the government.
“I refused to sign because I needed to consult my lawyer, and I did not believe I was personally responsible,” he stated.
Kebbeh described a subsequent three-month period of strict security detention before his court appearance. He emphasized that while he served as CEO of Win-Win, he was not the sole shareholder, naming investor Buba Khan, who had no role in daily operations or the rice deal.
He also clarified that another company, Atof, in which he holds shares, received some contract payments directly from the Ministry of Trade, but stressed his non-involvement in those transactions.
The prosecution alleges that between 2020 and 2021, Kebbeh dishonestly induced payments totaling D64,080,000 by falsely claiming rice supplies, with only partial delivery occurring. They claim he fraudulently retained funds intended for undelivered bags to vulnerable populations during the health crisis.
Kebbeh firmly rejected the accusations, maintaining the shortfall stemmed from the supplier’s default, not criminal intent.
The trial, which has drawn significant attention due to its links to pandemic-era procurement and substantial public funds, was adjourned to 12 p.m. tomorrow for continuation.
Justice Jaiteh earlier dismissed a “no case to answer” submission by the defense, ordering Kebbeh to proceed with his defense in the matter.
