Monrovia – The Strategic Journalist Committee has condemned former and current government officials who are threatening to prosecute and physically attack convicted former Liberia Football Association Vice President for Operations, Cassel Kouh.
The Strategic Journalist Committee, in a press statement, says it has been reliably informed that “these former and current government officials who were part of the scheme to dupe the American businessman of millions of dollars are planning to murder Kouh for fear that he may call their names as accomplices to the crime when he is sent back to Liberia”.
The release added that the Committee’s Chairman Rhodoxon Fayiah has been informed by highly placed source that Mr. Kouh may be put on parole for good behavior and may be deported to Liberia to serve parole.
Mr. Fayiah said Kouh has served his prison time for crimes he committed and has shown good behavior and therefore has the right to live in Liberia without any threat on his life.
The Strategic Journalist Committee chairman warned that his institution will not hesitate to call those former and present Government officials making threatening statements against the former LFA executive.
Kouh was sentenced to seven and half years in prison after pleading guilty in the North Carolina federal court for duping other business men more than US$9.5 million.
The Court also ordered Mr. Kouh to pay $16.2 million in restitution and is subject to deportation after completing his sentence.
In his testimony before the Court, Cassel Kouh expressed regret for his action and asked for forgiveness.
“Please, please stop giving money to people. I got information you recently give money to people in Kenya again, just two or three weeks ago. … Stop. It’s a scam. Please! It is a scam,” he pleaded.
Mr. Kouh in his testimony said his arrest was “the best thing that ever happened to him” for which he appreciated God.
“I was going on the wrong path. Now that I’m caught, at least at this age, I have time to rewrite my name,” he said. “I deeply regret being part of a syndicate that led me to this, and I owe them a lot.”
Some Liberians, reacting to the guilty verdict, said the victims of Kouh were also corrupt and guilty of the same crime.
They said the Investors were defrauding Liberia and knew that there are procedures set up by Government for potential investors looking to invest in the country but they opted for the back door.
“If these so-called investors were meant good for Liberia they would not have gone through the back door to invest millions of Dollars without researching the legitimacy of their exploit,” Fayiah said.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
