By Omar Bah
The National Assembly member for Banjul South, Fatoumatta Njie has questioned the integrity of Bai Mass Saine, a member of the newly formed Commission of Inquiry into former President Jammeh’s assets.
The NAM argued the fact that Saine, being the son of former NIA boss Captain Lamin Saine who was Jammeh’s associate, could compromise his impartiality in the commission.
His father Captain Lamin K Saine was also nominated into parliament by former President Yahya Jammeh following the 2012 parliamentary election before
serving as Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency from 2012 to 2013
He was sacked as the DG of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on Monday, 9th December, 2013.
The NAM argued that with such a deep connection of his father with the former regime, Commissioner Saine’s judgment could be clouded.
However, in response to the NAM’s misgivings, the Minister of Justice Aboubacarr Tambadou, said: “On membership of Bai Mass Saine, I personally believe that no son or daughter should be made to pay for the sins committed by their parents if at all there are sins at the first place.
“We need to be very careful here, on how we judge people. Bai Mass Saine is a very mature person and a qualified banker with an impeccable integrity. He should be judged on his character alone and not by those of his family members.”
He said it is unfair to cast doubt on Saine’s credibility and integrity on alleged sins of his family.
“Allow me to emphasise that this Commission of Inquiry is a fact-finding one and its powers are only limited to making recommendations,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the parliamentarians passed and adopted a whopping D900, 000 remunerations for the three commissioners tasked to lift the lid on former President Jammeh’s assets in the next three months.
Moving the motion before the NAM’S yesterday the Minister of Justice said the establishment of the said commission was necessitated by the receipt of preliminary reports from; inter alia, the Central Bank of the Gambia, Gamtel, GNPC, NAWEC, SSHFC, and other public institutions which indicate that substantial funds were, either directly or indirectly withdrawn.
