MONROVIA – Base on a Frontpage Africa investigative report about the alleged financial malpractice at the Financial Intelligence Agency, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has invited the head of the entity for questioning.
By Henry Kamore, [email protected]
In a statement issued Monday March 4, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) says its attention has been drawn to an article printed in the Front Page Africa in its Tuesday, February 27, 2024, edition under the caption, “Liberia: Financial Intelligence Agency’s Financial Activities Show Entity Received US$500K, Withdrew All Same Day.”
“The story alleges that on September 22, 2023, the Director General of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Mr. Stanley Ford received US$599k and withdrew the same day on the cheque bearing the name of the entity’s Comptroller who is identified as D.M.P. Cooper.”
Upon receiving this information, the LACC launched an immediate inquiry and invited the parties involved to a preliminary investigation at the head office of the Commission.
“The LACC at this point would like to assure the public that a full-fledged investigation is being conducted and if probable cause is established, the rule of law will take its course.”
Meanwhile, a communication from “concerned staff members” of the FIA has been sent to Finance and Development Planning Minister Boima Kamara who is the head of the AML/CFT Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), requesting a full-scale investigation of Mr. Stanley Ford’s Operations.
In a communication dated March 1, 2024, the staff referenced the news article published by the FrontPage Africa on a reported fraudulent financial transaction of US$500,000 that was deposited and withdraw on the same day using the FIA account.
In their complaint to Finance Minister Kamara, they also mentioned that Mr. Ford was appointed to the former ruling Coalition for Democratic (CDC) ways means and Finance campaign committee in the just ended 2023 Presidential and general elections.
The concerned staff also accused Mr. Ford of blatantly violating former President George Weah Executive order which suspended salary increment, employment and promotion by promoting and increasing salary of his confidants.
