Former Head of State, Others Indicted
12 May 2008
The Government of Liberia has indicted former transitional Head of State, Charles Gyude Bryant, former House Speaker, Edwin N. Snowe, Bomi County Senator, Richard Divine and two others on crimes of economic sabotage; theft of Property; Bribery and Criminal Conspiracy.The two other accused are Mr. Siaka Sheriff, a former Controller of the Liberian Petroleum Refining Company and Mr. G. Andy Gquamie, former Special Assistant to Mr. Snowe, when he served as Managing Director of the LPRC.
GA_googleFillSlot("AllAfrica_Story_Inset");
According to the indictment, a copy of which is in the possession of this paper, the state alleged that between the period from March 2004, up to and including January 2006, the above five accused without any color of right and fear of God and in violation of the statutory laws of the country made and provided, and with criminal and wicked intent to deprive the Government of Liberia and its wholly owned public corporation the LPRC, did knowingly, feloniously, purposely, criminally, maliciously and intentionally steal, pilfer, take and carry way, and convert sundry amounts from various accounts of the LPRC, under various schemes.
Relevant Links
West Africa
Crime and Corruption
Legal and Judicial Affairs
Liberia
The indictment alleged that the accused committed these crimes to the value of US$923,500 for Theft of Property and Economic Sabotage, inclusive of US$214,500 for bribery, an act also constituting criminal conspiracy according to the indictment. The indictment alleged that funds were requested from by some of the accused from the LPRC's account but the funds were neither reported to the government nor to the Central Bank. It said the accused carried out unauthorized withdrawal of the corporation's funds and did not use the money for legitimate and legal LPRC expenses, but, instead, misappropriated the money and converted it to improper and illegal uses. Former Speaker Snowe, was among one of the accused men who appeared in court Friday, when the matter was called for hearing but former Head of State, Bryant was absent.
>The Inquirer // 12 May 2008 |