Monrovia- The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission has been indicted for corruption, conflict of interest, and money-laundering by the Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission (LACC).
Announcing the outcome of the investigation in Monrovia on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, LACC’s Chairman, Cllr. Edward Kla Martin said Madam Browne-Lasanah was found to be in violation of Section 1.3.6, of the National Code of Conduct, which speaks against conflict of interest; Part II, Section 2.2 of the LACC Act and section 15.3 of the Money laundering Act of 2012.
The LACC’s findings against Davidetta Browne-Lansanah is a result of a month-long investigation into a Daily Observer report that the electoral body leased twenty facial recognition thermometers at the total cost of US$182,320 from a firm with family links to the NEC chair.
The LACC said the NEC Chair is being charged for not disclosing her vested interest in Tuma Enterprise Inc., which was awarded the US$182K contract for a facial recognition system while presiding over the procurement Committee. And that the two owners of the company are her biological brother and half-brother.
“Knowing full well her vested interest (relationship) in the Tuma Enterprise Inc, and having failed to make full disclosure to her fellow Commissioners or to the Procurement Committee, is liable of the following counts: Section 1.3.6 (Conflict of Interest) of the National Code of Conduct for all public officials and employees of the government; and Part II, Section 2.2 of the Act establishing the LACC that describes insider trading as an act of corruption,” said Cllr. Edward Martin, Executive Chairperson of the LACC. “And violation of section 15.3 for money laundering under section 15.2 of the Money laundering Act of 2012 which provides insider trading and market manipulations.”
Tuma Enterprise is a technology company established in Liberia in 2020 and has since won lucrative contracts from the government, including the building of a mobile app to keep track of travelers in and out of Liberia with regard to their COVID-19 status.
According to the LACC,Madame Lansana admitted and confirmed during the investigation that David Brown, Vice President for Operations of Tuma Enterprises was “her brother from the same father, while Arnold Badio, owner and incorporator of Tuma Enterprise is a brother to David Browne from the same Mother.”
“The National Elections Commission also awarded a certificate of completion to Tuma Enterprises on October 24, and paid a full amount of US$182,320 while the stipulated date for the contract to end was November 20,” LACC boss Cllr. Martin disclosed.
LACC announced that it is putting together the legal papers to forward this matter to court.
But there has so far been no reaction from the NEC Chair to the LACC’s findings.
In another development, the LACC announced Wednesday that it has also concluded corruption investigation at the National Port Authority (NPA), the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) and the National Transit Authority (NTA).
Meanwhile, the LACC has cleared Bishop John Allan Klayee of the Jubilee Church and George Yuoh of corruption allegations of payroll paddling and financial impropriety at the Liberia Airport Authority. Bishop Klayee is the former Managing Director of the airport, while Yuoh works as chief financial officer.