The trial of Willy Joof, former Gambian Ambassador to France, continued yesterday before Magistrate Kayode of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Lawyer Lamin Camara, the state witness Moses Benjamin Jallow stated that he had never seen the vehicle allegedly purchased in the name of the accused. He added that he knows now that the vehicle was purchased as per records sent to him by Michael Coecas, adding that he submitted these records to the investigators. As what was the position of Mr Coecas in the permanent delegation to UNESCO, he said Mr Coecas was the deputy permanent delegate.

PW1 further stated that Mr Coecas was appointed by the accused in 2004 as stated by the accused. He said as deputy to the accused, he would have seen the appointment letter if there was one.

He revealed that the accused terminated Mr Coecas’s appointment, noting that he got to know about the termination through a note sent by the accused to the UNESCO authority, and that he had submitted the termination note for investigation. He revealed also that the UNESCO account was opened in 2004 and as per records it was the accused who opened it, and that the records had since been submitted to the investigators. He said the accused as Ambassador has supervision jurisdiction over him.

Mr Jallow disclosed that Mr Nuss did not tell him how much he paid to the accused, but added that Mr Nuss had shown him evidence of the payment and that the relevant documents were with the investigators.

Hearing continues today.