Monrovia – The Inspector Basic of the Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP), Col. Gregory Coleman, has denied allegations that state prosecutors tried to bribe John Nyanti, one of many key suspects within the Capitol Constructing arson case, to testify towards former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and different co-defendants.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Nyanti, who was declared wished by the police and believed to have fled the nation following the December 2024 incident, resurfaced underneath controversial circumstances. His household not too long ago held a shock press convention, accusing the police of holding him incommunicado and trying to coerce him into serving as a state witness towards Koffa and others.
A day after the press convention, Nyanti appeared on the Monrovia Metropolis Courtroom, the place he reaffirmed his household’s claims. He alleged that the Authorities of Liberia provided him $US200,000 to testify towards the previous Speaker and several other lawmakers implicated within the case.
Nevertheless, addressing the allegations on the Ministry of Data’s common press briefing on Thursday, Police IG Coleman refuted the claims, stating that at no level did the police try to bribe Nyanti.
“There are claims and counterclaims suggesting that the police tried to bribe suspect Nyanti to falsely implicate others,” Coleman stated. “However let me make it clear—Mr. Nyanti has been recognized as an individual of curiosity on this investigation. He was introduced into the nation on June 6 by way of authorized means.”
In line with Coleman, it was Nyanti’s household who first approached the police with a request for a doable deal that may enable Nyanti to function a state witness.
“We accepted the proposal and engaged him, however after preliminary assessments, we discovered him to be unreliable and determined to not proceed,” Coleman defined. “At no time did we provoke negotiations or supply any bribe.”
The Police Chief famous that because of the ongoing nature of the case, the LNP is proscribed in what it will probably disclose publicly, however assured the general public that the police acted lawfully and transparently.
“I can let you know that they made a request that we couldn’t honor. This case goes past only a legal indictment—it’s about confronting a tradition of impunity,” Coleman added. “We’re conscious of disinformation being unfold from a number of sources.”
Coleman additional disclosed that Nyanti offered a sworn assertion, each in writing and on video, within the presence of his lawyer. He stated the proof could be offered on the acceptable time in court docket.
He stated the Liberia Nationwide Police stays resolute. This matter is now earlier than the court docket, and we are going to enable the judicial course of to take its course,” he stated.
