Ex-Sohm Alkalo at Centre of Allegations Again

Momodou Jarju, who lost his exalted position as the Alkalo of Sohm village, is once again at the centre of allegations.

Momodou Jarju, recently sacked for complicity with seven others to cut trees and burn charcoal, was this time around accused by one Mamadou Yassin Jallow for sanctioning their activities. Mamadou startlingly told the Kombo East District Tribunal that they were given the go-ahead by the disgraced former Alkalo to cut trees and burn charcoal.

According to Mamadou, he was caught by the Sohm Alkalo cutting down trees.

 “ The Alkalo insisted that I should stop but as I decided to go home, he called me back and asked me to pay D5000 to continue. I asked him to reduce this amount to D3,800 to which he agreed. I gave him D2000 on the spot. However, my failure to pay up the outstanding amount led the Alkalo to cart away my 72 pieces of timber to his compound for his personal use.”

“23 of the 72 pieces were recovered in the Alkalo’s compound whilst the rest were said to have been sold out.”

Jallow’s statement was corroborated by two others facing similar charges at the district tribunal.

Under cross-examination, the Alkalo admitted carting away the timber but insisted that the chief of Kombo East was in the picture. Chief Jarju have however denied the allegation.