Africa-Press – Gambia. Lead counsel of the Janneh Commission, Amie Bensouda, on Wednesday appeared before the National Assembly Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh. During her testimony, Bensouda expressed disappointment over the committee’s request for additional documents.
She stated that she had already provided all documents in her possession relevant to the committee’s mandate and emphasized that she had done so at her own expense.
“I’m disappointed that I appear before the committee, and the first question I am asked is why I decided to produce some documents and not others. My answer is simple: the summons to me, in my understanding, is that I should produce documents relating to the disposal of assets identified by the Janneh Commission. This is what I produced,” she said.
Bensouda also indicated her willingness to comply with further directives from the committee but stressed that any additional production should not come at her own cost.
“If you want me to produce all documents that I have relating to the Janneh Commission, you are certainly welcome to make that order. I will do so, but not at my own expense,” she said.
She highlighted the extent of her previous efforts, noting that she had submitted the documents in three volumes, with two copies of each, and objected to characterizations that she was “dragging her feet.”
“I have produced them, and these are at my own expense. I produce these documents, and not only in one volume; I produce them in three volumes, and each volume in two copies. I do take objection to any honorable member using language like “dragging your feet” and so on. I don’t think it is called for,” she said.
She further stated that her role as a witness is to comply with lawful requests within the committee’s mandate and reaffirmed her willingness to provide any additional documents if formally directed to do so.
“I am here at your invitation, and I have responded to the best of my ability and understanding,” she told the committee.
Following her testimony, the committee directed Amie Bensouda to submit all documents in her possession related to the Janneh Commission by Monday.
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