Culled from the Observer of Tuesday, February 17, 
2004
                                Kuru says YDE pays gov’t travel expenses
                                             By P.K. Jarju

Lamin Kuru Kongira, second defence witness in the ongoing economic crime 
trial involving Baba Jobe and others, has revealed that the Youth 
Development Enterprise Ltd (YDE) was from 2000 to 2003, bankrolling the 
traveling expenses of [some] government officials as well as the maintenance 
and operations of Millennium Airline of President Jammeh.

Testifying before Justice MA Paul yesterday, Mr. Kongira who was the flight 
operation manager of the presidential jet said the YDE on the instructions 
of Baba Jobe, has paid sums of US$ 1,536,626.07 and D 1,678,150 respectively 
from 2000 to 2003 as travel expenses of government officials.  Copies of the 
said travel expenses were tendered in court and marked as exhibits AA50 to 
AA76.

Mr. Kongira added that YDE has also paid the expenses of chartered flights 
made by government.  According to him, YDE paid US$ 200,000 to the 
International jet services for a chartered flight from Banjul to Italy and 
US$ 335,000 for another chartered flight from Banjul to Washington.  He 
added that YDE also paid US$ 341,2000 and US$ 269,700 for chartered flights 
made by government from Banjul to Durban and Addis Ababa respectively.  
Copies of the travel expenses were also tendered and admitted as exhibits 
AA30 and AA33.

Mr. Kongira further disclosed that the YDE was from 2000 to 2003, paying the 
periodical insurance of the presidential jet, which totaled US$ 457,365.65.  
Copies of these receipts were tendered and admitted as exhibits AA34 and 
AA38.

He said the YDE has also over the past three years paid US$ 904,056.31 for 
the maintenance of the aircraft, US$ 600,460 and D 593, 079 for basic salary 
and food allowances for the Russian crew.  He said the YDE has also paid D 
1, 313,000 as basic salary for the local staff.  Documents showing the 
payments of the food allowances and salaries were tendered and admitted as 
exhibits AA77 and AA104.

Mr. Kongira further disclosed that the YDE on the instructions of Baba Jobe 
has paid D 24, 315,586 for the air tickets and pocket monies of pilgrims 
airlifted by the presidential jet to Mecca during the 2000 and 2003 
pilgrimage.

During cross-examination by the DPP, Mr. Kongira admitted that he was part 
of the YDE operations in 1999 but that since 2000, he had not participated 
in the affairs of the company.  He asserted that New Millennium was owned by 
President Jammeh.

The case was adjourned to today for the DPP to continue cross-examining Mr. 
Kongira.

END

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