Monrovia – A Chinese language investor has accused the Managing Director of the Nationwide Port Authority (NPA), Sekou A.M. Dukuly, of orchestrating a scheme to take away fellow Chinese language businessman Yang Dan from a multimillion-dollar Liberian-registered firm, Duke International Restricted.
The corporate, which has attracted practically US$6 million in international capital, is reportedly backed by Yang Dan and a number of other abroad companions. The dispute provides a brand new dimension to ongoing authorized battles and raises considerations concerning the involvement of public officers in personal enterprise dealings.
The allegations surfaced following the publication of a narrative by The Unbiased Newspaper titled “Chinese language Dupe Chinese language,” which claimed Yang Dan had defrauded fellow buyers. Nevertheless, Ding Li Jun, one of many key buyers, has refuted the article’s claims and as a substitute accused Mr. Dukuly of deceptive the group.
Chatting with Liberian journalists through cell phone from China on Wednesday, June 18, Ding Li Jun alleged that Dukuly had visited China final yr and informed buyers that Yang Dan was concerned in fraudulent exercise. Based on Ding, Dukuly satisfied them to not belief Yang and invited them to Liberia earlier this yr.
“Sekou got here to China and informed us Yang was concerned in fraudulent actions. Based mostly on that, we traveled to Liberia this March at his invitation. He instantly took us to a regulation agency and instructed them to file a lawsuit towards Yang,” Ding mentioned by an English interpreter. “We didn’t totally perceive what was taking place as a result of we don’t communicate English.”
Ding added that upon arrival in Liberia, he and the opposite buyers visited Duke International Restricted’s amenities and located that Yang’s claims concerning the water plant and different infrastructure have been true.
“All the things Yang informed us was true,” Ding acknowledged. “It now appears the lawsuit was filed by Sekou by his attorneys after we left Liberia.”
Ding claims that Dukuly’s motive was to make use of the Liberian authorized system to take away Yang from the corporate and take management of the enterprise.
“He wished Yang pushed out of the funding utilizing the court docket system. It’s now clear to me that he was by no means honest,” Ding mentioned. “I don’t belief him once more. I’ve no confidence in Sekou anymore.”
Yang Dan arrived in Liberia in 2022 searching for funding alternatives and was launched to Dukuly by a Chinese language resort supervisor. Following discussions, Dukuly was invited to China the place he agreed to type a enterprise partnership with Yang and his companions.
Subsequently, Duke International Restricted was registered in Liberia. Dukuly reportedly contributed US$350,000, which he later tried to get better. In the meantime, Yang and his companions invested US$2.6 million to construct a water bottling plant. Plans have been additionally developed to launch a mining operation, with Dukuly allegedly requesting an extra US$1.2 million for licenses and permits.
The brand new allegations, if verified, might have broader implications for Liberia’s enterprise setting and lift moral questions concerning the function of public officers in personal investments. Though the reported transactions occurred earlier than Dukuly assumed management on the Nationwide Port Authority, the state of affairs has intensified requires transparency and accountability.
