LACC Gives Conflicting Instructions In Former IG Brown Corruption Case

Just days after the Criminal Court’C noticed that there was conflicting information from the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC), regarding two separate accounts, the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission/Restitution of Government Funds, and the Government of Liberia Account Title: “Asset Recovery” With Account Number#160-200-3653 opened at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), the court has invited the bank, Executive Governor J. Aloysius Tarlue, to provide explanation about the accounts.

Governor Tarlue is expected to appear on Friday, September 10, in Judge Ousmane Feika conference room to discuss matters relating to the restitution being made by the former Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP )Beatrice Munah Sieh Brown and several others individual mandated by the Supreme Court to restitute the amount of US$199,800 as money judgement against them, in the Account#160-200-3653(Title:Asset Recovery) lodged with the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL).

The two accounts, Liberia Anti-corruption Commission/Restitution of Government Funds, and the Government of Liberia Account Title: “Asset Recovery” With Account Number#160-200-3653 were opened to facilitate the payment as restitution of the US$199,800, as money judgement the Supreme Court rendered against former Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Beatrice Munah Sieh Brown and several others individual.

The Liberia Anti-corruption Commission/Restitution of Government Funds was opened at the CBL by then, Acting Executive Chairman of the LACC, Counselor Kanio Bai Gbala dated May 6, 2021, and thehe Government of Liberia Account Title: “Asset Recovery” With Account Number#160-200-3653 was also opened at the same CBL by the current LACC Executive Chairman, Counselor Edwin K. Martin, dated, July 28, 2021.

Tarlue’s invitation comes about seven days after the Sheriff of the court, Tina G. Noring wrote Assigned Judge Ousmane Feika about the difficulty she experiencing in depositing some of the payment in the amount of US$16,500 paid against the US$199,800 with respect to the two accounts of the LACC at the CBL.

Tina’s letter to Judge Feika dated August 31, but was filed to the court on September 1, 2021 and copy with the Daily Observer Newspaper.

In that communication, Tina informed Judge Feika that “I proceeded to the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to effect the directive, but I was informed by authority of the CBL that there is no need to purchase manager check because the said account is not general revenue account.”

Her letter recommended, ” I would be pleased where you to invite the authority of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) for amicable resolution, so as to enable my office to deposit said fund at the said Central Bank of Liberia (CBL).”

The sheriff, is an employee of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) assigned at the Judiciary to help enforce the order of the court.

Surprisingly, when Counselor Martin was confirmed as executive chairman of the LACC, he immediately wrote the court,on July 28, 2021 directing Sheriff Tina to make sure the restitution payment were deposited in the new account, the Government of Liberia Account Title: “Asset Recovery” With Account Number#160-200-3653, though the Cllr Gbala account was already been used.

In that letter, Cllr Martin ordered that, “Your Honor is requested to order the sheriff of Criminal Court’C to use US$75,00 of the amount restituted to purchase five (5) Manager Checks for each of the five defendants and transportation to facilitate the process.”

It further reads, ” we would appreciate the court advising the defendants and others defendants in similar situations to deposit subsequent payments into the account mentioned above than the court.”

Additionally, Martin said, ” this communication supersedes all previous communications written by the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission in this regard.”

In conclusion, Martin mandated, ” this communication shall serve as your legal and sufficient authority.”

It is not clear as to whether the Government of Liberia Account Title: “Asset Recovery” With Account Number#160-200-3653, it is the continuation of the Assets Investigation Restitution and Recovery Team (AIRReT) that is under the supervision of Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus, of which, its chairman, Counselor Arthur Johnson has tendered in his resignation, where he cited lack of political will to fight corruption in Liberia.

Before Cllr Martin letter, then Acting Executive Chairman of the LACC, Cllr Gbala, on May 6, 2021, wrote then Assigned Judge Peter Gbeneweleh requested that the restitution paid to the court by the defendants must be deposited into government general revenue account with description”Liberia Anti-corruption Commission/Restitution of Government Funds “. And, with copies of the LRA official receipts be submitted to the LACC and the court.