Monrovia – Former Minister of International Affairs Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah has condemned his arrest and detention, together with a number of former officers, as a “public witch-hunt” missing authorized advantage.
By Willie N. Tokpah
Talking shortly after his launch from the Monrovia Central Jail on Thursday, Kemayah claimed the federal government has failed to provide compelling proof to justify the fees towards him.
Kemayah, who was arrested with seven different former officers in reference to the alleged diversion of humanitarian rice support, maintained his innocence and known as for a good and clear authorized course of.
“It’s unlucky and unjustifiable to arrest and jail people with out substantial proof,” Kemayah acknowledged. “Nevertheless, I stay dedicated to going by the authorized course of and consider justice will prevail.”
Kemayah, together with Mary T. Broh, former Director-Normal of the Normal Providers Company (GSA); Henry O. Williams, former Govt Director of the Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Company (NDMA); and Thelma Duncan Sawyer, former Deputy International Minister for Administration, was launched on Thursday by Legal Court docket “C” after securing human surety bonds.
Nevertheless, three different NDMA officers—Acheivego Doe, Communications Director; Rosette Gbeisaye, Director of Logistics; and Augustine Kollie, Director for Response—stay in custody on the Monrovia Central Jail. Edward Konneh, Response Officer on the NDMA, is reportedly nonetheless at massive.
The case facilities on the alleged misappropriation of 29,412 baggage of rice, valued at over US$425,000. The rice, donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Help and Reduction Centre in April 2023, was supposed for disaster-affected and weak communities throughout Liberia however was allegedly diverted for private and political use.
A forensic audit performed by the Normal Auditing Fee (GAC) performed a essential position within the investigation. The audit reportedly revealed that enormous portions of rice have been secretly moved to personal storage amenities, some allegedly linked to people concerned within the 2023 electoral marketing campaign.
Primarily based on the GAC’s findings, prosecutors charged the accused with a number of offenses, together with Theft of Property, Financial Sabotage, Misuse of Public Workplace, and Legal Conspiracy.
In the meantime, sources inside the Judiciary disclosed that the presiding decide of Legal Court docket “C” expressed dissatisfaction with the way by which the courtroom clerk issued the jail dedication order. Allegedly, the order to detain the accused on the Monrovia Central Jail was executed earlier than the decide had signed the ultimate dedication, elevating issues over procedural compliance.
With 4 defendants now launched and authorized proceedings ongoing for these nonetheless in custody, the case is shaping as much as be a serious take a look at of the Boakai administration’s dedication to its anti-corruption agenda.
