PHOTO: Davidetta Brown-Lansanah, NEC Chair
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTIC, Monrovia- The corruption saga at the National Elections Commission (NEC) has taken a new twist, with Criminal Court ‘C’ today, Wednesday, December 23, 2021 issuing a writ of arrest the head of NEC, Davidetta Brown-Lansanah on multiple charges.
Madam Brown-Lasannah was indicted by the Ministry of Justice after an investigation conducted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
Last week, LACC Chairman, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin said investigation conducted found NEC Chairperson Bowne-Lansana culpable for corruption, conflict of interest, and money-laundering by the Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission (LACC).
But the NEC Chair Browne Lansanah earlier this week fired back at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, saying that she and the NEC the LACC lied that there was admitted to engaging in corruption.
Now, the Criminal Court ‘C’ on Wednesday issued multiple charges on her, which range from predicate offense for money laundering ( insider trading and market), manipulation, violation of the code of conduct, conflict of interest, Relative use of office for private interest and disclosure of interest.
“You are here by commanded to arrest the living body of Davidetta Brown Lasannah, Chairperson, National Elections Commission (NEC), Defendant charged with the crimes mentioned above and forthwith bring her before the Criminal Court “C”, First Judicial Circuit for Montserrado county, Republic of Liberia, based upon an Indictment drowned against her by the Special Grand Jury for the people of Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia,” the writ of arrest says.
“Your are hereby commanded to do your official returns as to the manner of service of the said writ of arrest. For so doing, this shall constitute your sufficient legal authority,” the court writ said.
The Ministry of Justice indictment accuses the NEC Chair of awarding a COVID-19 testing kite contract to her two brothers who owned and operate the Tuma enterprise during the recent Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Bomi Counties by-election instead of sending said information to the PPCCC according the Ministry of Justice indictment.
The contract was signed in October and end on 27 November 2021 and it should have ended, and each of those equipment rented cost US 900 when in fact if purchased said price is less than US$900.
The rented COVID-19 testing materials cost one hundred eighty-two thousand and three hundred and twenty United States dollars.