By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Liberia’s Solicitor General and Chief prosecutor of Liberia, Cllr, Saymah Syrenius Cephas has said that the CDC government “is after the Head and Not the Tail” in the ongoing LD$16 billion banknotes case at the Criminal Court ‘C’ involving top Central Bank of Liberia officials.
Cllr. Cephas, Solicitor General
On Thursday, the government dropped multiple corruption charges against the son of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Charles Sirleaf who was Deputy CBL Governor and three others.
Charles Sirleaf and the three others– Dorbor M. Hagba, Richard H. Walker and Joseph Dennis–were indicted since February 2019, by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County on crimes of Economic Sabotage, Money Laundering, Criminal Solicitation.
State Lawyer said the government dropped the charges in line with Section 18.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
They were accused of involvement in the illegal printing of billions of Liberian banknotes well in excess of 16 billion not authorized by the National Legislature. The government initially attempted to pursue legal action against Crane Currency, the foreign company that printed the money Claims against the company has since dropped its claims.
But iIn an exclusive interview with Judicial Reporters at the Temple Of Justice on Friday, May 15, 2020, Cllr. Cephas said, “usually when you want to kill the snake, attack it from the head and not tail.”
Former CBL officials leaving the court
The Chief Prosecutor filed a motion to Nulle Prosequoi Charles E. Sirleaf along three other Defendants who were indicted for multiple crimes.
Liberia’s Solicitor General added that the CDC government has completely dropped charges against Charles E. Sirleaf with prejudice to the state, meaning that they can’t go back to impose charges against him. But he said with Dorbor M. Hagba, Richard H. Walker and Joseph Dennis charges were dropped against them without prejudice to the state meaning they can be called back at any time, if the need arises.
Cllr. Cephas told Judicial Reporters that Charles Sirleaf and the rest of the co-defendants were serving in subordinated capacities. As such, he said they can’t be the one who gave authorization to the unauthorized printing of the L$10.5bn and excess printing of L$2.6bn Liberian dollar banknotes that is yet unaccounted for.
According to him, “when it comes to Corporation, you deal with the board and managing director who having to be the secretary of the board adding that in the case involving the CBL, you can’t go after the petty ones and leave the executive governor, chairman of the board, board of directors.”
One analyst says if the government knew all this, why did it invest all the resources it did in this case over the period, in the first place?
Narrating further, Liberia’s Chief prosecutor said the Chairman of the board and board of directors have contacted two of who are cooperating and he gave the rest Monday as an ultimatum to appear if not they will surely go after and indict them.
He maintained that the CDC government has zero tolerance in fighting corruption and will not condume any corrupt act.
Cllr. Cephas said the two CBL board members who are cooperating are Malisha Emirates, currently in the US and Essay Dossen Badio.
At the same time, the son of former President Sirleaf, Charles Sirleaf has told Journalists that gives God the glory and Justice has prevailed.
Mr. Sirleaf said that Liberia is a country of law and he is excited by the government’s decision to drop charges against him with prejudice to the state.
After the submission of the motion to Nulle Prosequoi the CBL corruption case was made, defense Lawyer, Cllrr. Johnny Momo interposed no objection, as he said it is a matter of law in line with Chapter 18 of the Criminal procedure law.
The court criminal Court C has reserved ruling into the motion of nulle prosequoi filed by state prosecutors into the matter.