Africa-Press – Gambia. Amie Bensouda, the former lead counsel of the Janneh Commission, appeared on Thursday before the National Assembly Special Select Committee investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former President Yahya Jammeh. What began as routine testimony soon turned tense as lawmakers pressed her to produce copies of the monthly fee notes she had submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
The request, made by Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, drew a sharp rebuke from Ms. Bensouda, who described it as an act of “bullying.” She questioned why she should be compelled to retrieve documents from the Ministry when the committee itself has the authority to summon the records directly.
“You know what I call bullying?” she said. “To insist that I should produce documents, and if I can’t find them, I should go to the Ministry of Justice and ask for the document, when it is this committee that has the power to summon the Ministry of Justice to bring those documents, I called that bullying. I have no power over the Ministry of Justice, why should I be asked to write to the Ministry of Justice to produce documents?” she asked.
Ms. Bensouda explained that all fee notes were addressed to and processed by the Ministry of Justice, which handled her payments. While she said she might have retained copies, she added that any originals would remain with the ministry. She promised to check with her accountant and forward whatever copies her firm still possessed.
Committee members, however, maintained that if her office did not have the documents, she should obtain them from the ministry. Ms. Bensouda objected to that directive, reiterating that the documents were government property and that the committee itself held the authority to request them.
“I do not think that is correct. I do not think that is right and is bullying,” she said.
However, Committee Chairman Abdoulie Ceesay responded that the instruction was intended to ensure that all witnesses were treated equally. The committee’s lead counsel added that procedural questions could be addressed as they arose.
The committee’s lead counsel stated that once the order is issued, any subsequent matters could be addressed as they arise.
Ms. Bensouda explained that their office does not keep the original fee notes and that any documents they present would be copies of those sent to the Ministry of Justice. The witness, therefore, requested that the committee amend its order to allow them to submit copies of the available documents.
“The fee notes are not in our possession; they were sent to the government so we can get paid,” she explained.
She was then instructed to produce any copies of the fee notes in her possession.
She also clarified that payments were made to her firm’s account, not to her personal account, and that her engagement with the Janneh Commission was in her individual capacity as Amie Bensouda, not as a representative of her law firm.
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