Monrovia – A Lebanese businessman and his son have been found guilty of stealing over US$1 million dollars from Tayo Motors. In addition to the stealing, Salah Farhat, a shareholder in the company and son Tamer Farhat, an employee, were also found guilty of theft of property, misapplication of entrusted property and criminal conspiracy.
The guilty verdict was brought down against the men by Judge Yarmie Gbeisay on Monday, April 6. The father and son had earlier pleaded not guilty at the onset of the trial.
In his verdict, Judge Gbeisay added that based on the evidence adduced during the trial and the laws cited, the court found that the prosecution proved its case beyond all reasonable doubts that the defendants jointly and severally committed the crimes.
“Wherefore and in view of the foregoing, defendants are adjudged guilty of the crimes of criminal conspiracy, theft of property and the misapplication of entrusted property,” ruled Judge Gbeisay.
The Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge at the Temple of Justice had ordered the two defendants who were in court for the ruling to restitute the amount of US$1,370,390.60 to the management of the Tayo Motors Liberia. He further disclosed that they will be sentenced following a sentence hearing by the court and asked the probation division of Montserrado County to conduct an investigation on the conduct of the defendants and report within 14 days before the sentence is announced.
Judge Gbeisay claimed that the manner and form in which the records of the business were kept and money expanded, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to know that the managing partner had a nefarious motives or separate agenda in running the business to the detriment of the majority partner, Ezzid Eid.
Cllr. David Woah, representing the defendants took exception to Judge Gbeisay’s ruling by taking an appeal to the Supreme Court during the October 2020 sitting of the high court.
Defendants Salah Farhat and son Tamer Farhat were indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County in February 2019 for the alleged commission for the crimes of theft of property, money laundering misapplication of entrusted property and criminal conspiracy based on complaint by the majority partner of Tayo Motors Liberia, Ezzat Eid.
The indictment stated that Defendant Salah Farhat, a 25-percent shareholder, had allegedly misapplied the company’s fund and properties in the amount of US$1,663,186.58.
However, the charge of money laundering was dropped by prosecution during the amendment of the indictment due to insufficient evidence to prove the charge.
According to the indictment, the pay for Defendant Salah Farhat as managing partner for Tayo Motor as per agreement was US$2,000 monthly while his son, who was assisting him in the running of the business was to be paid US$1,000 monthly instead the managing partner allegedly increased his pay to US$5,000 and his son to US$2,000.
During the trial, Defendant Salah denied all allegations levied against him by businessman Ezzat Eid as “untrue” and every money he collected was deposited in the company’s account at the Ecobank, which he had records to prove.
According to Defendant Farhat, he owned a 25 percent share in the Tayo Motors Liberia that was established in 2011 and that his share was bought by Ezzat Eid, who initially had a 65-percent share in the company.
“Your honor the allegations levied against me by Mr. Eid are lies; how can I steal from myself who is a share hold in the company?” Salah asked during his testimony in court.