MONROVIA – An impeccable investigation conducted by this paper has uncovered an organized criminal scheme set up by certain unscrupulous individuals aimed at smearing the hard-earned reputation of the Gambian Consul-General, Ismaila Sesay, accredited near Monrovia, Liberia.
The Gambian diplomat is a seasoned and certified licensed businessman who deals in various gems, including diamonds.
A source said, “He is honored and highly respected by the Liberian citizenry. He commands massive influence with the ability to foster growth and promote business and partnerships at a transnational level.”
This paper has discovered that despite his commitment to nurturing togetherness, upholding human dignity, and respect for all, both in the private and diplomatic sectors, certain miscreant individuals, seemingly driven by a sinister plan, chose to design lies to intentionally blur the image of the Gambian diplomat.
Findings by this paper revealed the names of individuals, among whom was a man identified as Solomon Kamara, alleging to have bought a diamond that originated from the hands of the Gambian diplomat.
Contrarily, this paper has learned that Kamara was not the buyer of the gem but instead fronted for a British-Egyptian identified as Marmud, whom Kamara claimed was his in-law.
Findings by this paper further showed that Marmud flew the gem out of the country without complying with the scrutiny system at the Ministry of Lands and Mines, which is considered criminal and punishable under the law.
Apparently, with the intent to smear the good name of the Consul-General, Kamara took out a headline in the Wednesday, September 24 edition of the Hot Paper newspaper, such as: “The Gambian Diplomat Appears In Court Monday; In Connection With The Sale Of Fake Diamond.”
Kamara had the audacity to file a complaint in the alleged case before Judge Jormah Jallah of the West Point Magisterial Court. Given that the judge had doubts over the circumstances surrounding the matter, he called the parties involved to a conference for a preliminary hearing, at which time he found no merit in the allegation to warrant any litigation, making him dismiss the matter.
At no time was the diplomat detained, as insinuated by Kamara in the paper’s publication.
However, Judge Jallah has clarified that the Gambian diplomat was never invited under his court’s jurisdiction, adding that Sesay went to the court only to make known his diplomatic status, based on advice from his lawyer.
The Gambian diplomat, who has unequivocally dismissed Kamara’s allegation as complete nonsense and diabolical, with no basis and iota of truth, told this paper that he had bought a gem long before, intended for business.
He narrated that he gave the gem out for sale to one of his able lieutenants, adding that, in the event, the British-Egyptian purchased it.
“I thoroughly tested the stone in my office before giving it out,” Sesay said.
Findings by this paper further showed that following the testing of the diamond by the Gambian diplomat before the buyer’s eyes, the buyer requested a counter-testing, while he held the stone for three hours and satisfactorily tested it, proving it to be a clean, faultless, and real diamond.
Sesay, appearing emotional over this allegation, told this paper that Marmud paid only $5,400 for the gem, based on an agreement struck during the deal. But surprisingly, Marmud returned from England after over a month and claimed that the diamond he bought was fake.
Upon Marmud’s return to Liberia, he presented a conflicting case over the gem, arguing that the stone weighed 7.23 carats when tested in the UK, thus contradicting Kamara’s allegation that the diamond weighed 7.21 carats prior to Marmud’s departure from Liberia with it.
To verify Marmud’s action, this paper was able to obtain his UK contact, such as: +447440056088. But up to press time, several attempts to reach Marmud proved futile.
An official of the Ministry of Lands and Mines, who preferred anonymity, told this paper that Marmud’s failure to comply with the Ministry’s regulations prior to his departure with the diamond was illegal and amounts to punishment by law.
Kamara further claimed to have purchased the gem for over $10,845 from the Consul-General, something findings gathered by this paper showed was calculated, marred by lies, with the intent of smearing the good name of the diplomat.
‘This is a blatant lie, misleading, and an act meant to spread falsehood and words without elements of truth, intended to muddy my name,” Sesay described Kamara’s action.
The Gambian diplomat has threatened a lawsuit against Kamara and his accomplices.