By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Credible source at the Firestone rubber plantation company in Harbel, Margibi County say a fraud has been unearthed in its Information Technology (IT) Department and the company’s management has taken initial action against employees allegedly involved in the scam.
Nine persons working with the company were booked recently for allegedly doing payroll deduction of one US dollar each from Firestone Liberia employees “for their own selfish gain.”
According to our source (name withheld), the management of Firestone Liberia Incorporated has therefore suspended nine of the company’s employees for time indefinite, pending investigation beginning Monday, February 3, 2020.
The IT department in Firestone is responsible for the preparation of all employees’ payroll on the farm.
It is alleged that some of those working in the IT department have been deducting one dollar each and diverting the amount for other personal use.
Our source said the information was revealed by an Indian IT specialist, after a reshuffle process and he was appointed to head the IT department.
“Imagine Firestone Liberia Incorporated by then has more than ten thousand employees when one dollar each has been deducted and it still continues with those who are currently working with Firestone, when in fact the workers of Firestone have been underpaid,” our Firestone source said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL) Rodennick Bongorlee has confirmed that nine employees have suspended from the IT department.
Mr. Bongorlee told this Reporter that those suspended are not due payer of the union, but if the investigation findings show that workers of the plantation were hurt through their criminal act, they will therefore issue official statement on the next course of action.
Investigation into the matter continues.