Gambian Ambassador Mawdor Juwara yesterday denied allegations that he had pocketed money meant for Gambian students studying in Taiwan.

In an interview with the Taipei Times, Juwara said the allegations came as a "great shock."

The fund, valued at 5,000 euros (US$7,300), was given to the 81 students by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh during a visit to Taiwan in December. The students said it was customary for the president to give them money whenever he visits the country.

The allegations were made last week by one of the students, who sent an anonymous letter to the US-based Freedom Newspaper accusing Juwara of keeping the money for his own use. The writer also accused embassy employees of corruption and using the students as a "front" to solicit more funds from the their government.

The letter said the students had asked the Taiwanese government to help them get the money back.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was not involved in the case.

A group of student representatives said the ambassador was holding the funds, but that the students had asked Juwara to hold onto the money until they had agreed on how to use it.

One of the students, Mama Tamba Jammeh, said the accusation had been made by a disgruntled student and did not reflect the common view of the group.
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