Leaks reaching the Daily Observer indicated that one Alasana Drammeh, an accountant at the Department of State for Water Resources, has been accused of absconding with at least D296,000.

The absconder, sources added, had drawn payment vouchers which were signed at the department with supporting documents.

Alasana, sources said, had taken the said vouchers to the Accountant General's Office to process payment. He was alleged to have later withdrawn the money from the Central Bank.

According to sources, the suspect had already handed over the key to the department's safe to his assistant.

Sources added that investigations of the alleged fraud have begun and that the police were preoccupied with, among other matters, ascertaining the authenticity of the signatures on the cheque issued.

When contacted for comment, Ousman Jarju, the director of Water Resources, declined to comment, saying that "I'm sorry, I cannot comment on this issue."