Several Indicted on Criminal Conspiracy

The Liberian government is poised to move in on several individuals, including the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Mr. Clemenceau Urey, former Montserrado County Representative Alomiza Ennos Barr and a host of others the government is accusing of economic sabotage, bribery and criminal conspiracy. The indictment comes as President Ellen Johnson prepares to meet U.S leader Barack Obama to forge a new cooperation on Liberia’s post Ebola recovery efforts.

According to the unsealed indictment obtained by FrontPageAfrica, the Grand Jurors for the county of Montserrado, Republic of Liberia, upon oath found more probably than not, that the following officials were indicted. They include: Clemenceau B. Urey, Sr., former Chairman, Board of Directors of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Cllr. Stephen B. Dunbar, Jr., Peter B. Jallah, Jr., D. Evelyn Kandakai, Albert T. Chie all former members Board of Directors, NOCAL, Dr. Fodee Kromah, former President/CEO, NOCAL, Fulton Reeves, Comptroller, NOCAL, Timothy G. Wiaplah, former Senior Accountant, NOCAL, Alomiza Ennos Barr, former member, 52nd Legislature and J. Nanborlor F. Singbeh, Sr., Secretary of the Liberian Senate…” The indictment states that the individuals committed the crime of Economic Sabotage, a felony of the first degree in violation of Chapter 15, Subchapter F, Section 15.80(a) (b)(c)(e) of the New Penal Law of Liberia, Title 26 of the Liberian Code of Laws. The unsealed indictment states that between the period May 2006 to May 2007 Urey then Chairman, Board of Directors of NOCAL and Cllr. Stephen B. Dunbar, Jr., Peter B. Jallah, Jr., D.Evelyn Kandakai, Albert T. Chie, all then members Board of Directors, NOCAL, Dr. Kromah, President/CEO, NOCAL and the other indictees knowingly, willfully, purposely, intentionally, collude to defraud the Government of Liberia of US$120,400.00, by engaging themselves into the solicitation, payment and/or receipt of money for the alleged purpose of ratification by the 52nd Legislature of oil contracts entered into by and between NOCAL and several oil companies. States the indictment: “That Defendants Clemenceau B. Urey, Sr., then Chairman, Board of Directors of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Cllr. Stephen B. Dunbar, Jr., Peter B. Jallah, Jr., D. Evelyn Kandakai, Albert T. Chie, all then members Board of Directors, NOCAL, Dr. Fodee Kromah, former President/CEO, NOCAL, Fulton Reeves, Comptroller, NOCAL, Timothy G. Wiaplah, then Senior Accountant, NOCAL authorized, approved, paid and/or caused to be paid US$50,000 captioned as “lobbying fees” to members of the 52nd Legislature whose names you the Defendants have deliberately, intentionally, willfully, and purposely, refused and failed to reveal.” The unsealed indictment states that Dr. Kromah, Reeves and Wiaplah, while serving in their individual capacities stated and for the period from June 2006 up to and including April 5, 2007 approved, paid and caused to be paid US$25,000 and US$15,000 respectively totaling US$40,000 as “lobby fees” to members of the 52nd Legislature for the purpose of ratification of oil contracts. The indictment notes that the amounts were received by Defendant Ennos Barr, a former member of the 52nd Legislature for onward transmission to the 52nd Legislature and she issued receipts without the approval of the Board of Directors of NOCAL. “Defendants Urey, Dr. Fodee Kromah, Reeves and Wiaplah in their respective positions at NOCAL authorized, approved, paid and/or caused to be paid without the approval of the full board or the majority thereof, the amount of US$26,900 which they named and styled as “lobby fees” to members of the 52nd Legislature,” states the indictment. The unsealed indictment accused the defendants of refusing to reveal the names of those the monies were paid to at the time thereby defrauding the Government and creating an opportunity for others to defraud the Government. States the Indictment: “That the amounts of US$50,000, US$40,000 and US$26,900 named and styled “lobbying fees” which are mentioned in paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 above, were paid out in the form of three checks in the name of Co-Defendant Timothy G. Wiaplah, which he claimed he en-cashed and remitted to his bosses for the payment of “lobby fees” to members of the 52nd Legislature.” The indictment notes that though Co-Defendant Kromah denied knowledge of the check of US$26,900 written in the name of Wiaplah, the check for this amount bears his signature and that Defendant Singbeh, Sr received from NOCAL check # 00757917 dated April 1, 2008 for US$2,000 on voucher/Request # 0426 which purpose is said to be “Ratification Bill”. States the indictment which is expected to be unsealed today (Tuesday):“That though you the Defendants individually and/or collectively claimed that US$120,400.00, was disbursed, paid and received by members of the 52nd Legislature as “lobby fees” for the ratification by the 52nd Legislature of oil contracts entered into by and between the National Oil Company of Liberia and several oil companies there is only evidence of receipt of US$40,000, US$2000, and US$1500, by Alomiza Barr Ennos, J. Nanbolor F. Singbeh, and James Kabah respectively, leaving the amount of US$76,900.00 unaccounted for. The indictment states that the acts of the Defendants are in violation of Chapter 15, Subchapter F, Section 15.80(a) (b)(c)(e) of the New Penal Law of Liberia, Title 26 of Liberian Codes which states that “A person is guilty of a first degree felony, if he: (a)Knowingly conspires or colludes to defraud the Government of Liberia; (b) Knowing makes an opportunity for any person to defraud the Government of Liberia or another; (c) Does or omits to do any act with intent to enable another to defraud the Government of Liberia; (d) Demands greater sums than authorized by law or receives any fee, compensation or reward for the performance of any duty except compensation from the Government of Liberia. The indictment further states: “That Defendants Alomiza Ennos Barr, former member, 52nd Legislature and J. Nanborlor F. Singbeh, Sr., Secretary of the Liberian Senate did knowingly, willfully, purposely, intentionally, and criminally solicit and accept from the NOCAL management money for the ratification of oil contracts and did receive US$40,000 and US$2,000 respectively.” “A person has committed bribery, a second degree felony, if he knowingly offers, gives or agrees to give to another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to give to another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another, a thing of value as consideration for: (a) The recipient’s official action as a public servant; or (b) The recipient’s violation of a known duty as a public servant. It is unclear when the government to enforce the indictment but a senior official told FrontPageAfrica Monday that the former officials could be brought in for inquiry any day now.