The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force in Liberia announced on Thursday, April 9, that seven individuals, including former minister of commerce, have been charged with theft, economic sabotage, and criminal conspiracy in relation to the purported misappropriation of nearly $1.82 million intended to assist rural women entrepreneurs.
The task force’s fourth indictment since its formation lists former minister of industry and commerce Mawine G. Diggs as the principal defendant. Jedu J.N. Nuefville, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s financial controller; Joseph Howard, a former senior policy advisor at the ministry; Kevin Monga, president of the National Rural Women’s Structure of Liberia; Elizabeth Sambula, president of the Liberia Marketing Association; Josephine Greaves, former secretary general of the National Rural Women’s Structure; and Kermue Borbor, a cashier at the ministry, are also charged.
Property theft, economic sabotage, misuse of public funds, misuse of entrusted property, and criminal conspiracy are among the accusations. The government allocated $2 million for vulnerable small business support initiatives during the 2023 fiscal year, with $1,819,469.03 going to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, according to Task Force Chairman Counsellor Edwin Klah Martin. The money was put into accounts at the Central Bank of Liberia with the goal of helping small and medium-sized businesses, farmers, marketers, and local savings and loan organizations.
According to Martin, investigations revealed that the co-defendants, including Mawen Diggs and others, illegally diverted these money from their intended use, depriving the intended beneficiaries and using them for their own gain. Council member. According to Cllr. Martin, between 80 and 85 percent of the money was misused. The chairman reacted to to criticism on social media that the task force specifically targets political opponents of the current administration. Martin stated, “We won’t pursue individuals in the absence of proof. This is not a forum for politics. We are an evidence-driven organization that solely makes decisions based on facts.”
He continued that certain people who had been looked at by earlier administrations had been exonerated because there was insufficient evidence to warrant any prosecution. He stated, “The court of competent jurisdiction is the only way you can clear yourself. “All you have to do is appear in court and apply the legal remedies after being charged.
Mayor. Martin admitted that the task force’s progress has been sluggish since President Joseph Boakai created it, pointing out that the body was stuck at the Supreme Court for nine months due to an early legal challenge filed by the investigation’s targets. According to him, subsequent indicates have also asked the Supreme Court to step in and postpone prosecution. Martin stated, “I want to say the litigation process is precise and exact, but it is slow.”
