By Allen P. Lablah,lallenpaye@yahoo.com
SANNIQUELLIE, Liberia- The Liberia National Police Nimba Detachment has begun preliminary interrogation of officials of the Gba Community Forest financial scandal.
The investigation began on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.
But the accusers have named over 44 persons, including the Forest Development Authority during the then Harrison Kanwea administration and they want them to provide clarity, thus extending the police interrogation to a later date.
The two top officials, who have been alleged of misapplying over USD$200, 000, are Terrance Larkpor Executive Committee Chair and Austin Kai Chief Forest Management Body of the Gba Community Forest own by Yarmein and Sanniquellie Mah Administrictive Districts.
During the Police interrogation at the Nimba County Police Detachment Austin Kai Chief Forest Management Body and Terrance Larkpor Executive Community Chair admitted receiving USD$1050.000, and not over USD$200,000 as claimed by the complaining Yarmein Youth Seleh Zoe Organization.
Mr. Kai, reported said in his statement to the Police that the Forest Development Authority (FDA) has undocumented 20% kickback of every transaction that the entity does in the country.
PHOTO: Two accused (Terrance in black and Austin in white shirt)
When the police asked why it should be so, Mr. Kai replied that FDA did not give any reason behind such money deduction.
He maintained that always FDA management asked for such money or else refuse to sign some essential documents that the Gba Community Forest in need.
‘’On several occasions FDA management has taken such money from the US$150,000.00,’’ Mr. Kai alleged.
During the preliminary interrogation he underlined the followed items he bought and did for the Gba Community Forest; boundary clearing for 60 days by 57 persons; two town hall meetings; radio talk shows and announcements, forest guard salary, Forest Management Body salary.
Other includes: purchasing of two power saws, 97 bags of cement and 25picies of steel taxes deduction, certification of partners and community assemblies identification or IDA.
But Mr. Kai has been unable to present genuine financial receipts or reports to the police since the Gba active operation process started in 2015.
Mr. Kai also told the Police preliminary interrogation team that the USD$1050, 000 admitted to; was endorsed by the 44 community Assembles or CA within the 22 communities managing the Gba Community Forest for its usage.
Those items some were intended to construct sawmill for the entity but as it stands no construction yet.
This statement has prompted the police to invite all community assemble members and other subordinate officials of the CFMB and the EC.
The Community Assembles is people who are elected from communities to represent their communities, endorse and approve the CFMB work plan for operation.
The CFMB report to them quarterly through their Executive Chairman or EC.
Arcelor Mittal gives USD$1050.000 to the Gba Community Forest to extract marketable logs from 510 acres of Land in the Gba Community Forest around 2014.
The Gba CFMB also accused one Mr. Jerry Fonba of in position of USD$43000 for the entity extra the USD$1050.000. He did not give the main location of the accuser.
Kai denied receiving USD$10.000 from Arcelor Mittal from Mount Gangra operation instead agreed upon receiving USD$6000, adding that ArcelorMittal deducted government 6% and FDA 25%.
Austin explanations to the police preliminary hearing on expenditures are verbal communication and not documented.
The Executive Committee Chair Terrance Larkpaor distant himself from the usage of the USD$1050, 000, although he said he is aware of the money.
‘’I was on sick leave and all the processes my Chief Officer did I cannot gave account of it, on grounds that no genuine report on’’ Terrance said.
As such, the CFMB should answers on the usage of the money. The EC chair told police investigation team on several occasions