-----Original Message-----
                From:   Jeng, Beran
                Sent:   Monday, October 30, 2000 9:31 AM
                To:     [log in to unmask]
                Subject:        FWD:Where Is the Auditor General?



                The Independent (Banjul)

                EDITORIAL
                October 27, 2000

                Alhagie Mbye
                Banjul

                Reports reaching The Independent during the past few weeks have
claimed that the Auditor General Fatoumatta Jallow-Gaye, who reportedly traveled
to the United Kingdom, is yet to return home, prompting rumours that she has
absconded.

                Sources at the Auditor General's office explained that
Fatoumatta Jallow-Gaye who was expected back earlier was given a deadline by the
government since October 5, 2000 to return. Unconfirmed reports monitored on
Tuesday suggested that the Auditor General has sought political asylum in the UK
following information alleging that her department was in crisis.

                An official at the Auditor General Office confirmed to The
Independent that the Auditor General is currently not in The Gambia but he
assured that Mrs. Gaye would be back 'in due course'.

                'Why are people still concerned about her whereabouts?' he
inquired.

                Sources at the Auditor General's Department claimed that a
problem had erupted between her and the government after she reportedly wrote to
the Secretary General and head of the civil service, demanding that a secretary
whom she accused of involvement in the 'stealing of government fuel coupons'
should be sacked. The sources noted that the secretary in question had denied
any involvement in the alleged theft of fuel coupons in the department. That was
said to be the fourth reported case.

                'Fuel coupon problems have been a long-standing issue in the
department', added the insiders who also disclosed that the secretary who was
accused of the coupon theft had handed over Mrs. Gaye's letter to the Public
Service Commission, who reportedly instructed her to continue work. They noted
that the secretary also made a written counter claim, accusing the Auditor
General of abusing her office 'by inviting friends and other relatives to make
free international calls in her office, and misused fuel coupons among other
things'.

                Reports also claimed that the NIA had interrogated some members
of the Auditor General's family whilst she was still away but it is not clear
whether the questioning is in connection with her alleged 'disappearance'.
Inside sources also claimed that Mrs. Gaye was also accused of leaking to the
opposition the Auditor General's report before it was submitted to the National
Assembly for which the government felt 'offended'.

                Since 1994, the Auditor General's office has been confronted
with 'petty problems' and that about 12 of its employees have left the
department in disillusioned sources intimated.



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