February 21, 2018: The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has welcomed the ruling of the 14th Judicial Circuit Court of Rivercess County, finding guilty, former Sinoe County Superintendent, J. Milton Teahjay for violating the procedures and processes of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) in the awarding of contracts for the implementation of county development projects.
While the LACC welcomes this ruling, it is gravely concerned about the Judge’s decision to ignore other charges in the indictment against Senator Teahjay which carry greater magnitude including Economic Sabotage, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation and Misapplication of Entrusted Property.
The Court has accordingly fined Senator Teahjay US$50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand United States Dollar) to be paid into Government’s revenue within the period of nine months and failure to do so would lead to his arrest and imprisonment until the amount is paid and a clerk certificate obtained.
The case against Senator Teahjay was brought and prosecuted by the LACC. He was charged and indicted for Economic Sabotage, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation, Misapplication of Entrusted Property and Violation of the PPCC Procedures and Processes.
Ben Kolako
PRO/LACC
Friday, January 26, 2018 The Body of Commissioners (BOC) at the LACC has
requested the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct an immediate audit
on the LACC’s expenditure of its employees’ remittances disbursed to the
Commission by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
The BOC made this decision in light of media reports alleging that employees’
remittances were misappropriated or misapplied. It is clear that these allegations
have claimed the public interest and generated lots of reactions, casting doubt upon
the integrity and credibility of LACC.
The audit will investigate what occurred, and if actions taken by the LACC
regarding the employees’ remittances were in adherence to established policies and
procedures.
In a letter sent to the GAC, the BOC asked that the audit be conducted speedily to
address any blemish such accusations of misapplication of employees’ remittances
have come to have on the LACC’s Body of Commissioners and the agency at large.
Signed:
Counselor-At-Law
Executive Chairperson
December 18, 2017: The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has dedicated an operational and a cutting edge digital Forensic and Cyber Crime Lab that will be able to retrieved evidence, catch and prosecute criminal in more hitched and improved fashion.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Atty. Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh, Executive Director of the LACC said the operation room is primarily for the enforcement and investigation division group discussions meeting and individuals investigating to aid the LACC in its investigation exercises.
‘’We believed that LACC has step up its giant steps in the fight against corruption and with the help of the government and development partners we can achieved our mission and vision’’ he said.
Also speaking at the program, Pa Lamin Beyai, County Director (UNDP), said the intervention which started in 2013 is geared towards strengthening the investigation and prosecutorial capacities of the LACC as a recipe for sustaining peace in Liberia. ‘’Corruption is a menace in any society that require robust actions, if peace must be sustained and development must be achieved’’.
He further said that since 2007, the (UNDP) has provided numerous supports to strengthen the capacities of national integrity and oversight institutions including the LACC. Through the Strengthening Transparency Oversight and Accountability Program (STAOP), the commission has benefitted technically and financially in effort to its capacity and execution of its mandate. He also said that the UNDP was able to mobilize about 500,000 USD to support the LACC, PPCC and CSO’s in the fight against corruption.
