Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MONROVIA491
2007-04-26 14:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:
LIBERIA: UPDATE ON HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION
how-toVZCZCXRO8164 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHMV #0491 1161436 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 261436Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8453 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000491
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND INR/AA-BGRAVES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM KJUS LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: UPDATE ON HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION
PROSECUTIONS
REF: A. A) MONROVIA 00353
B. B) MONROVIA 00079
C. C) 06 MONROVIA 1112
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000491
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND INR/AA-BGRAVES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM KJUS LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: UPDATE ON HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION
PROSECUTIONS
REF: A. A) MONROVIA 00353
B. B) MONROVIA 00079
C. C) 06 MONROVIA 1112
1. (U) The Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 24 on a
motion filed by attorneys for former National Transitional
Government of Liberia (NTGL) Chairman Guyde Bryant arguing
that Bryant cannot be tried for "economic sabotage" (See
Reftel A) because he enjoys immunity under Article 61 of the
Constitution. Article 61 states: "The President shall be
immune from any suits, actions or proceedings, judicial or
otherwise, and from arrest, detention or other actions on
account of any act done by him while President of Liberia
pursuant to any provision of this Constitution or any other
laws of the Republic. The President shall not, however, be
immune from prosecution upon removal from office for the
commission of any criminal act done while President." The
government argued that Article 61 does not apply to Bryant
since he was never elected President of the Republic of
Liberia and that Article 61 does not provide immunity for a
criminal act. The court is expected to hand down a ruling on
this motion by May 11.
2. (U) In a second high profile corruption case, former
Speaker of the House of Representatives Edwin Snowe was
arrested April 12 and charged with theft of US 1 million
dollars from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC),
where he served as managing director between October 2003 and
January 2006. Senator Richard Devine (COTOL - Bomi County),
Snowe's deputy at LPRC, was also charged with theft. Snowe
was released the same day of his arrest after he posted a US
1.8 million dollar bond. A hearing was held April 18 to
determine the validity of the bond, which the government
argued was invalid because the license to operate of the
insurance company that underwrote the bond had expired.
Snowe's attorneys filed additional documentation regarding
the company's bona fides and the next step is for the
Solicitor General to examine this documentation.
Booth
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND INR/AA-BGRAVES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM KJUS LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: UPDATE ON HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION
PROSECUTIONS
REF: A. A) MONROVIA 00353
B. B) MONROVIA 00079
C. C) 06 MONROVIA 1112
1. (U) The Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 24 on a
motion filed by attorneys for former National Transitional
Government of Liberia (NTGL) Chairman Guyde Bryant arguing
that Bryant cannot be tried for "economic sabotage" (See
Reftel A) because he enjoys immunity under Article 61 of the
Constitution. Article 61 states: "The President shall be
immune from any suits, actions or proceedings, judicial or
otherwise, and from arrest, detention or other actions on
account of any act done by him while President of Liberia
pursuant to any provision of this Constitution or any other
laws of the Republic. The President shall not, however, be
immune from prosecution upon removal from office for the
commission of any criminal act done while President." The
government argued that Article 61 does not apply to Bryant
since he was never elected President of the Republic of
Liberia and that Article 61 does not provide immunity for a
criminal act. The court is expected to hand down a ruling on
this motion by May 11.
2. (U) In a second high profile corruption case, former
Speaker of the House of Representatives Edwin Snowe was
arrested April 12 and charged with theft of US 1 million
dollars from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC),
where he served as managing director between October 2003 and
January 2006. Senator Richard Devine (COTOL - Bomi County),
Snowe's deputy at LPRC, was also charged with theft. Snowe
was released the same day of his arrest after he posted a US
1.8 million dollar bond. A hearing was held April 18 to
determine the validity of the bond, which the government
argued was invalid because the license to operate of the
insurance company that underwrote the bond had expired.
Snowe's attorneys filed additional documentation regarding
the company's bona fides and the next step is for the
Solicitor General to examine this documentation.
Booth