NJ – New Jersey authorities have legally seized $6.4 million and other assets from a chain of mental health clinics founded by a recently deceased Liberian presidential candidate for billing Medicaid for more than 10,000 bogus claims.

By Jerry DeMarco, Daily Voice, New Jersey

Daniel E. Cassell, formerly of Perkasie, PA was under a 17-count state indictment when he died of an apparent heart attack at 56 years old on Christmas Day 2022.

The West African-born Cassell — who was a psychologist, business consultant and politician and founding member of Liberia’s People Liberation Party — was the president and chief executive officer of Kwenyan Professional Health Services, based in West Orange, and Ewing-based Kwenyan and Associates.

The companies operated a chain of mental health, behavioral and substance abuse clinics in Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Union, and Warren counties, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.

Between January 2015 and October 2020, Cassell and some of his employees submitted more than 10,000 false claims for Medicaid reimbursement to the New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, the attorney general said on Monday, Feb. 12.

In just about all of those, Platkin said, either “no actual services were rendered” or “group therapy services were [provided], but higher-paying individual therapy or family psychotherapy codes were falsely billed.”

Cassell fled to Liberia amid the New Jersey probe, then was arrested on a fugitive warrant in Georgia upon landing at the Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport in Atlanta in March 2022.

A 17-count indictment returned in August of that year charged the father of six with conspiracy, health care claims fraud, Medicaid fraud and money laundering, among other offenses.

His wife, Bindu Coleman Cassell, also was accused of trying to help her husband escape justice.

Cassell — who professed his innocence throughout — was free on bail and running for president of Liberia when he died four months later.

Rather than face prosecution, Cassell’s successors entered into a consent agreement with the state of New Jersey, Platkin said.

They paid a steep price, too, agreeing to forfeit to the state:

• 15 passenger vans for which authorities said Cassell conspired with others to get lower insurance premiums;
• $2,437,546 from financial accounts;
• $3,922,532 from the sale of properties in Flemington, West Orange, and Washington Township, New Jersey;
• $47,879 in rent on five parcels of real estate.

All come to a combined total of $6,407,958 — but that’s not all.

“The state will be entitled to further proceeds after the sale of other real estate maintained by Cassell and the Kwenyan entities,” Platkin said.

“This was not a small number of illegitimate claims for payment, but rather the systematic submission of false claims — thousands of them — over several years, defrauding taxpayers of millions of dollars,” the attorney general said.

Deputy Attorneys General Vladimir D’Argenio and Charisse M. Penalver prosecuted the case for the Office of the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prosecutor – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Detective Michael Rosati led the investigation.

The civil asset forfeiture proceedings were handled by DAsG Leslie-Ann M. Justus and Laticia M. Wright in OIFP’s Case Screening, Litigation, and Analytical Support Section.

Assisting were the New Jersey Treasury Department’s Office of Criminal Investigation; the Hilltown Township PA Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office in Jonesboro, GA.

Perkasie, Pennsylvania – The Leadership of the USA chapter of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) says the Party will this week commence a tour of two states in the Midwest region of the United States of America (USA).

According to a PLP press release issued on Sunday, September 11, 2022, the Party’s Vision and Standard Bearer, Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, will lead the tour. He will be accompanied by some executives of the PLP-USA chapter, and they will visit the states of Minnesota and North Dakota.

The tour will begin on Friday, September 16^th with a visit to the City of Minneapolis in Minnesota. While in Minneapolis, Dr. Cassell and the PLP executives will speak at a town hall meeting on Saturday, September 17^th. The meeting will be hosted at 5: 00 PM (midwestern time/10:00 P.M. Liberian time) at the Office of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) based in Brooklyn Park.

On Sunday, September 18^th, the tour will continue with a visit by Dr. Cassell and the PLP leadership to the Liberian-owned Ebenezer Community Church located in Brooklyn Park for a worship service. After the service, the Standard Bearer and the PLP delegation will head to Fargo, North Dakota, where another political town hall meeting will be hosted at 4:00 P.M. at the Christ United Ministry House of Testimony located at 705 E Main Avenue, West Fargo.

The purpose of the Midwest tour is for the Standard Bearer and the PLP leadership to educate Liberians and friends of Liberia based in those states about the mission and vision of the Party as it prepares for the 2023 general and presidential elections in Liberia. The PLP is one of the newest opposition political parties in Liberia. The party was founded and certificated as a full fledge political party in Liberia by the National Election Commission (NEC) in 2020.

PERKASIE, Pennsylvania – The Vision and Standard Bearer of the opposition People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Dr. Daniel Cassell, has branded as domestic terroristic threat the recent declaration by Montserrado County Representative Solomon George that he will eliminate, or cause to disappear critics of President George Manneh Weah and the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) if appointed Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP).

Report by Moses D. Sandy, Contributing Writer

Dr. Cassell says the pronouncement by Representative George is grossly irresponsible, dangerous, and undemocratic. The PLP Vision and Standard Bearer said the Lawmaker’s pronouncement must be denounced by all Liberians, especially President Weah. The Lawmaker represents District Number Seven in the House of Representatives of the Liberia national legislature.

According to media reports, Representative George spoke recently in Montserrado County at a town hall meeting held in District Number Seven during a visit to the district by President Weah and executives of the CDC. The provocative Montserrado County lawmaker declared, “Mr. President, you know me. Maybe you want to win the Nobel Peace Prize, but as for me, I do not want to win the Noble Peace Prize. I want to be police director for just six months or one year, people will disappear.”

In a press release issued on Monday, August 29, 2022, Dr. Cassell described Representative George’s declaration as repugnant to the rule of law. He said it has serious security implications; and it has the potential of eroding the Liberian democracy, and the peace and stability the country now enjoys following years of repeated civil wars. The defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia’s (NPFL) led first Liberian civil war started on December 24, 1989, in Butuo, Nimba County. It was proceeded by other civil uprisings. The wars claimed more than 250 thousand human lives and the displacement of thousands of Liberians in the West African subregions and other countries in the world. Liberia’s brutal civil wars ended in the year 2003.

Dr. Cassell called on the US government and the international community to take note of the Lawmaker’s statement which poses serious threat to the wellbeing of opposition political leaders in Liberia. He said the statement also, reinforces the current waves of violence across Liberia. He maintained, “Let the international community and the Weah administration intervene in probing Representative George for the threat made against the people of Liberia.”

Meanwhile, the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) Vision and Standard Bearer says the Party welcomes the US Department of the Treasury’s recent targeted sanctions imposed on three eminent members of the ruling CDC government. On Monday, August 15, 2022, the US government through the Department of the Treasury sanctioned the now suspended Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill, Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cepheus, and the Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), Bill Twehway, for engaging in corrupt practices in the public sector for their own personal benefits. According to the US Department of Treasury, the reported actions of the sanctioned officials undermined the Liberian democracy and the country’s ability to thrive.

The PLP Vision and Standard Bearer further applauded the US government for the action taken in the fight against blatant acts of corruption in the Liberian government. He said it is a shame for President Weah to sit in Monrovia unmoved while a foreign country takes the lead in identifying and weeding out corrupt officials in the CDC administration.

In a related Development, the US based chapter of the PLP says it will this week start a tour of two states in the Midwest region of the United States of America (USA). The tour, the Party says will be led by its Vision and Standard Bearer, Dr. Daniel Cassell; and it will begin on Saturday, September 3, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On September 3, 2022, the Party will convene a town hall meeting at the Office of the Organization Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) based in Brooklyn Park at 5: 00PM (midwestern time/10:00P.M. Liberian time).

On Sunday, September 4, 2022, the tour will continue with a visit by Dr. Cassell and the PLP leadership to the acclaimed Liberian owned Ebenezer Community Church located in Brooklyn Park for a worship service. Following the service, the tour will continue with a visit to Fargo, North Dakota where another political town hall meeting will be held at 4:00P.M. at the Christ United Ministry House of Testimony located at 705 E Main Avenue, West Fargo.

The purpose of the Midwest tours is for the Standard Bearer and the PLP leadership to educate Liberians and friends of Liberia based in those states about the mission and vision of the Party as it prepares for the 2023 general and presidential elections in Liberia.

MONROVIA – Ahead of the 2023 general and presidential elections in Liberia, the shattered and disbanded Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) is said to be exerting efforts to encourage other like-minded opposition political parties to join the alliance as evidenced by a decision reached by the newly established People’s Liberation Party (PLP) to form a part of the collaboration.

It can be recalled that the CPP, which previously comprised of the All Liberian Party (ALP), Unity Party (UP), Alternative National Congress (ANC) and Liberty Party (LP), has been in disarray over personal ambitions and claims and counter claims over the voting process that could lead to the selection of a standard bearer for the party for years now.

The rigmarole and division within the CPP worsened following reports of the alleged alteration of the its frame work document and the constitution of one of its constituent parties’-a move which led to the filing of multiple lawsuits against hierarchies of the collaboration.

The situation left vast majority of Liberians, especially those yielding for a change in national leadership due to extreme economic hardship and poverty, disappointed and frustrated.

Liberians were hoping that the four original parties that formed the merger could hold together due to the effective and efficient manner and form in which the affairs of the CPP were being steered few years after its formation.

But it appears that the once vibrant opposition CPP is rejuvenating in a bid to once regain the trust and confidence of the Liberian people.

As part of efforts to amalgamate and rekindle, the CPP has been extending invitations to other opposition political parties to form part of the collaboration in a bid to ensure that President George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) does not get a second term come 2023.

PLP joins

One of those political parties invited to join the CPP is the People’s Liberation Party of Dr. Daniel E. Cassell.

The PLP was established and officially certificated as a full-fledged political party in Liberia by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on December 21, 2020.

Dr, Daniel E. Cassell, who holds a Master and Doctorate degrees in Psychology from North Central University in the United States, is the Standard Bearer of the PLP.

In a communication dated July 29, 2022 and addressed to the Chairman of the ANC Senator Daniel Naatehn, under the signature of its National Chairman Mr. Tapple E. Doe, the PLP unanimously agreed to join the CPP.

According to the party, the decision was reached by both the Executive Committee and the General Policy Commission (GPC).

The GPC is the highest decision making body of the party.

“The People’s Liberation Party (PLP), through its Executive Committee and General Policy Commission (GPC), the highest decision making body of the party presents compliments and wishes to acknowledge receipt of your communication dated July 21, 2022, inviting the PLP to join the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP).”

“Mr. Chairman, following review of your invitation, and based on discussions that we have had with you all, the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) hereby accepts your invitation to join the CPP. We look forward to working along with you all to provide the Liberian people a viable alternative for future elections”.

However, some executives are not either cognizant or in favor of the decision reached by the PLP to join the CPP.

Disenchantment and confusion may likely ensue among executives of the party over the decision reached.

Standard Bearer’s signature omitted

The signatures of the Standard Bearer and Secretary General Dr. Cassell and Daniel Gayou were not placed on the acceptance letter sent to the ANC.

Dr. Cassell, who is currently in the US could not be reached for comments up to press time.

The reason for the omission of their signatures is not yet known.

However, SG Gayou disclosed that the decision was reached and endorsed by the GPC.

Party not tie to individuals

He justified that though the decision may not go the way of others, the party is not tie around one person, including the Standard Bearer.

He maintained that decisions endorsed by the majority are bounding upon all.

“The reason we have been quiet is to finalize everything before we hit the media. But it’s clear and done (that PLP has joined the CPP)”.

When asked whether the Standard Bearer was in the know of the decision taken by the party, Mr. Gayou stated: “there was a meeting held with the Standard Bearer and besides that, this is a political party. If majority meet and endorse a document, the party goes by it. The party is not tie around some particular individuals”.

Mr. Gayou, however, pointed out that all parties, including the Standard Bearer were involved in the discussions to finalize the decision to join the CPP.

A new CPP?

According to him, the CPP will now be “modified under new arrangements” following the joining of the collaboration by the PLP.

He disclosed that a technical working group would be established to work out the modalities. 

“The Standard Bearer was involved in all of the processes and he is fully aware of our decision”.

Mr. Gayou stated that he and Dr. Cassell did not sign the communication sent by the party to ANC Chairman Daniel Naatehn because, the technical works that will form a new CPP have not been finalized.

He sensed deception among few members of the GPC of the party over their denial of endorsing the move to join the CPP.

MONROVIA – The George Weah administration appears to be using the courts as part of well-calculated and implored strategies to witch-hunt and go after key opposition politicians ahead of the 2023 general and presidential elections.

Since its inception, the ruling party continues to politically struggle as evidenced by its massive defeats in several by-elections across the country, including Montserrado, which was considered as its stronghold.

As part of efforts to clampdown on opposition politicians who intend to hinder or prevent a second term for President Weah come 2023, the CDC led-government has engaged into either embracing or backing legal suits against the Standard Bearers of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) and People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Mr. Alexander Benedict Cummings and Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, respectively, as means of tarnishing their reputation or lowering their morale.

Barely two days after the celebration of the New Year, Liberians woke up to news that the All Liberian Party (ALP) of top Liberian businessman, Benoni Urey, suing Mr. Cummings at the Monrovia City Court for alleged criminal conspiracy and forgery.

The ALP, ANC, the former ruling Unity Party (UP) and Liberty Party (LP) make up the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP).

ALP complained that its leaders’ signatures were “unlawful attached” to the alleged framework document of the CPP filed with National Elections commission (NEC) under the chairmanship of Mr. Cummings. Nevertheless the CPP framework document was prepared when Mr. Urey was chairman of the CPP.

To make matter worse, Mr. Cummings was ordered arrested by Judge Jomah Jallah like any ordinary person who has been accused for the alleged commission of a criminal offense.

Following his appearance at the court along with his lawyers, a criminal appearance bond was filed and accepted by Judge Jallah in keeping with the laws.

First Setback

Mr. Cummings’ trial experienced its initial setback when Judge Jomah Jallah denied a request from his defense team, to grant him brief absence from the ongoing criminal proceedings.

In the case which is gaining much political attention and interest, Mr. Cummings’ lawyers made the smart legal move to prevent their client from appearing in court, sitting on prisoner’s bench during the trial. But the request received a bloody nose following the Judge’s ruling on the matter.

Many believed that the decision was taken to embarrass Mr. Cummings, who has no other alternative, but to consistently show up during the trial despite being an “honorable man”.

This could sway his mind away or minimize his full participation or engagement into political activities, especially on days the case is called.

Though Section 2.4 subsection two of the Criminal Procedure Law, grants an accused person or defendant the right to voluntary absence, it remains unclear why Mr. Cummings’ request was rejected by the Judge even though four persons, including court officers sustained injuries following the appearance of the ANC’s Standard Bearer in court for the first time and the growing wave of Coronavirus cases in the country.

Section 2.4 subsection two of the Criminal Procedure Law under Presence of the defendant states that: “In prosecutions for noncapital offenses, the defendant’s brief voluntary absence after the trial has commenced in his presence and during any period up to and including the return of the verdict, when not prejudicial to the rights of the defendant, shall not prevent continuing the trial; nor shall it be grounds for a new trial or reversal on appeal if such absence was not brought to the attention of the trial court until after the return of the verdict”.

Judge Jallah ruled that it will be a reversible error to grant the defendant (Cummings) brief absence, when in fact, the defendant has not pleaded to the writ as to whether or not he is guilty.

Second setback

The Judge acted in line with the argument proffered by the state lawyers, requesting ANC Chairman and Secretary General, Daniel Naatehn and Aloysius Toe, to be included on the indictment, which was served Mr. Cummings.

Cllr. Cephas craved the court to ensure that all of those included in the writ be brought before the court on similar matter, in line with legal authority granting the state to amend in any state of the proceeding.

He cited Section 14.7 of the criminal procedure law as his reliance.

Section 14.7 states that: “The court shall permit an indictment or complaint to be amended at any stage of the proceedings to correct a formal defect”.

The hidden hand

Mr. Cummings has consistently accused the CDC led-government of President George Manneh Weah of being the mastermind behind his trial.

He accused the government of allegedly manipulating Mr. Urey for the sole purpose of disintegrating the CPP.

 “I think the ALP has decided to leave the CPP which is their right and therefore I don’t understand the basis for these allegations, they’re unfounded and I believe they’re all political. I believe unfortunately, that Mr. Urey is, perhaps, being used by the government because a united opposition makes it difficult for Mr. Weah to replace himself,” Cummings told the BBC on last Monday.

But Liberia’s Minister of Information, Mr. Ledgerhood Rennie, debunked the allegation.

“The Liberian Government is focused on continuing its efforts at delivering on the national development agenda and has no interest in the petit and divisive internal political arrangements of the CPP”, he stated.

Mr. Ledgerhood Rennie continued: “It is common public knowledge that the real reason for the disgraceful commotion within the CPP is simply because of individual desperation for political power.”

Why the keen interest?

The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Justice has taken keen interest over the case involving Mr. Cummings and two of his executives.

Though barrage of high-profile cases remained stockpiled on the court’s docket, Cllr. Cephas is putting in more time to ensure that Mr. Cummings is placed behind bars for the crimes he and others have been accused of committing.

The high level of seriousness, attention, and time being accorded the case continue to attract many citizens and others who believed that the trial is far political than legal.

The 4G or speedily manner and form in which the Cummings’ case is proceeding as compared to other high-profile murder and corruption cases involving former or current government officials is also unimaginable.

Interference

Though Section 1.5(a) of the Criminal Procedure Law gives the government power to prosecute every crime, some top government officials, including the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill have been either interfering or manipulating the trial of Mr. Cummings.

Leaks from the Council of Patriots (COP) WhatsApp chatroom exposed Minister McGill and the government’s interference with the case. It indicates that the allegations against the ANC political leader were all “trumped up”.

The message reads, “Further to our conversation the other day, I have made some inquiries. The prosecution of Alexander Cummings on what appears to be trumped up charges has not been well-received. There is renewed interest in Nathaniel McGill, whom you know from our previous conversations there is a dossier on. Now Benoni Urey and his daughter Telia have also attracted attention, as has the Solicitor General Cyrennius Cephas. I think people are also looking into the judge’s record, to see if he has a history of corruption. Just wanted to let you know, based on our relationship. Other than that, I hope you have a good weekend.”

The message was posted in the COP chatroom by Henry Costa who indicated that it was forwarded by McGill. Costa had apparently forgotten or did not know that Mulbah Yorgbor who until Sunday morning served the Secretary General of the COP and also the Director of Communications for the ANC, was still a member the chatroom.

Minister McGill has been having direct communication with the Political Leader of the All Liberian Party (ALP), Benoni Urey, who filed the complaint of forgery and criminal conspiracy against the ANC Political Leader.

When questioned by Mulbah why the COP was doing business with the government, he replied, “We sued ANC… the government is working with us as our lawyers”. Costa stated that the government also shared the information with their legal team.

Minister McGill has refuted forwarding the message to Henry Costa though he admitted forwarding same to the ALP political leader Benoni Urey, Solicitor General Cllr. Cyrennius Cephus and Lenn Eugene Nagbe.

The message, according to the chats, was sent by Riva Levinson to the Liberian Ambassador in Washington, Mr. George Pattern who then forwarded to the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill.

However, FrontPageAfrica got clarification that the message emanated from the office of U.S. Congressman Chris Smith’s chief of staff to Amb. Pattern, who also forwarded to Minister McGill.

Mr. Urey was a closed ally to President Weah prior to his ascendancy to the Liberian presidency. He financially and materially supported the CDC in 2011 and the senatorial bid of President Weah in 2014.

It remains unclear whether or not Mr. Urey remains a close friend to President Weah, despite being a key opposition figure.

Many see him as the one ‘spilling the beans’ within the CPP to guarantee a second term for President Weah, as evidenced by the government awarding lucrative contracts to some of his immediate family members, while others are establishing businesses void of any hindrance.

Cassell

Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, who is a trained and licensed Intensive/Outpatient Mental Health Psychologist, is the Standard Bearer of the newly established People’s Liberation Party (PLP).

He is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dr. Cassell’s Humanitarian Foundation, which has been providing assistance to thousands of needy Liberian citizens, particularly the visually impaired, underprivileged, disabled, old folks, among others.

He is becoming notable in the Liberian society for immensely contributing towards the wellbeing and development of Liberia and its citizens.

The helicopter saga

In 2020, Dr. Cassell took some of his party’s executives to South Africa to finalize the payment for a ZT-RJA Bell 430 helicopter from the National Airways Corporation (NAC).

The NAC is a commercial aviation company with its head office on the grounds of Lanseria airport in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sources closed to the PLP Standard Bearer have confided that the amount of US$3M was paid for the helicopter.

The CDC led-government, through the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) prevented the helicopter from landing in the country.

“LCAA notes that at no time did Kwenyan & Associates Group of Company request for landing permit to the LCAA for which, they filed a writ of Prohibition. The Group application for an Air Service License is still being reviewed by the LCAA in keeping with the Liberia Civil Aviation and relevant international Regulations and is pending the fulfillment of all the requirements”, a release issued by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) stated.

But the PLP contended that Dr. Cassell, through his company, Kwenyan and Associates, met all legal requirements and was given a permit by the LCAA for the helicopter to land in the country, but said permit was surreptitiously revoked for unknown reasons barely a day after it attempted landing in the country.

The court’s mandate

Following the action taken by the LCAA to prevent the helicopter from landing, the PLP filed a writ of prohibition to the Supreme Court of Liberia.

In a citation dated October 15, 2021 and issued under the signature of Atty. Sam Mamulu, Clerk of the Supreme Court, acting upon the order of the Justice-In-Chambers, the government, through the LCAA was mandated by the court to allow Dr. Cassell’s helicopter to land in Liberia.

“By directive of His Honor Yusuf D. Kaba, Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby cited to a conference with His Honor on Wednesday on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at the hour of 11:00AM in connection with the above captioned case. Meanwhile, you are ordered to permit the aircraft, subject of this petition, to land in Liberia, pending the outcome of the conference”, the citation stated.

Despite the court’s mandate, the government flagrantly refused to do so.

At the called conference, the Justice-In-Chamber fined the government US$500 to be paid in government’s revenue for its failure to act in line with the mandate, while Kwenyan and Associates was ordered to exert all legal means at the lower court before taking the matter to the Supreme Court of Liberia.

The rationale behind the decision taken by Associate Justice Kaba at the time to only fine the government and failed to mandate the LCAA to permit the helicopter to land remains questionable and makes the case to appear more political than legal.

Lawyers representing the interest of Dr. Cassell filed a writ of prohibition to the lower court in keeping with the Justice-In-Chambers’ mandate, but nothing has been heard about the case since then.

Helicopter meets international standards

Documents in the possession of FrontPage Africa have reviewed that the ZT-RJA Bell 430 helicopter belonging to the Political Leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, met all international standards required to fly and land in and around the African continent.

In a letter dated October 26, 2021, under the reference: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT CLEARANCES APPOINTMENT, the National Airways Corporation (PTY) Ltd, in keeping with international aviation laws, informed the LCAA about the landing flight of the ZT-RJA B430 helicopter belonging to Dr. Cassell from South Africa to Liberia.

The letter was addressed to the Director General of the LCAA, Mr. Moses Y. Kollie, under the signature of Jaco de Klerk of the NAC Quality Control Compliance and Helicopter Safety.

“This letter serves to confirm that National Airways Corporation (PTY) Ltd appointed International Flight Clearances (IFC) on the 14th of September 2021 to arrange the overflight and landing clearances for the ferry flight of ZT-RJA from South Africa to Liberia. Thank you and please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any additional information”, the communication stated.

The National Airways Corporation (NAC) offers a range of products and services for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter markets, including aircraft sales, maintenance, parts, value-added products, aircraft charter, international operations, and pilot training. 

It also operates a flight operations and charter division. NAC operates a South African network of offices; its main base is Lanseria Airport, with office hubs at Cape Town International Airport, Durban, Grand Central Airport, Wonderboom Airport and Rand Airport.

NAC also has businesses further afield in Botswana Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Gaborone and internationally, Awesome Flight Logistics in Perth, Australia and Specialized Aircraft Services in Wichita, USA.

NAC is an authorized dealer and representative for a variety of manufacturers and service providers in the aviation industry, including the Bombardier Aerospace, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Bell Helicopter, Robinson Helicopter, Diamond Aircraft, Pacific Aerospace, Piper Aircraft, Quest KODIAK, and Nextant 400XT.

Clearance form issued

International Flight Clearances (Pty) Ltd also issued a clearance form for the helicopter belonging to the PLP Standard Bearer.

International Flight Clearances is an aviation consulting company based in the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

It aim is to add value and safety to all flights while reducing the stress factor for both operators and passengers.

The company has immense experience in dealing with all types of flight operations worldwide.

It takes personal pride in the knowledge that it is able to suggest and plan routing that is cost and time effective.

The company also strive to add the personal touch to your flight, by adding efficiency and cost containment to your operations, and by so doing justify our service.

By being intimately acquainted with Africa in all her moods, the company knows the requirements for every country, small things which may trip your flight up and inconvenience your passengers.

The clearance form issued under the signature of Charles Grimsdell, head of Operations of the International Flight Clearances, shows that Dr. Cassell’s ZT-RJA Bell 430 will have an over flight and landing in several African countries including Cameroun, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Congo, among others.

Both the National Airways Corporation (NAC) and the International Flight Clearances requested the Liberian government or any other party having a problem over the flight to contact their respective entities, no evidence has been produced by the government of contacting the respective reputable institutions over the helicopter of Dr. Cassell.

Though the helicopter has flown and landed in almost all of the African countries listed above, it remains unclear why the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the LCAA is preventing the helicopter from landing at the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County or the Spriggs Field in Monrovia.

“You can’t dress more than the Town Chief”

The PLP has consistently claimed that the decision taken by its Standard Bearer to purchase a helicopter is intended to ensure easy and unhindered access to hear and address the plights and numerous challenges and difficulties confronting Liberians in leeward and hard-to-reach areas.

The party also claimed that medical supplies worth thousands of United States dollars will also be air lifted to various counties in a timely manner when the helicopter arrives in the country.

But scores of loyalists, including government officials continue to question the rationale behind the decision taken by Dr. Cassell to bring an aircraft into the country, ahead of the 2023 general and presidential elections in Liberia.

They believed that the move would boost Dr. Cassell’s political morale and win him favor in the eyes of the electorates of the gullible Liberian society if the government, through the LCAA allows the helicopter to fly from county to county in Liberia.

A source closed to the presidency quoted one senior confidante of President George Manneh Weah as saying “you cannot be living in a town and you want to dress more than the Town Chief”.

If this saying is anything to go by, it implies that the PLP and its Standard Bearer, Dr. Daniel E. Cassell will have a long way to go in ensuring that the government of Liberia allows the ZT-RJA Bell 430 helicopter to smoothly land and travel across Liberia, despite official complaints filed to diplomatic missions operating in Liberia, including the United States government, through its Embassy near Monrovia, the European Union (EU) Delegation in the country, among others.

Constitutional rights violated

The consistent and unbending refusal of the government to permit Dr. Cassell’s helicopter to land in the country violates his constitutional rights, particularlyArticles 11, 17 and 22 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution.

Article 11(a) of the Liberian constitution states that: “all persons are born equally free and independent and have certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, among which are the right of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of pursuing and maintaining and security of the person and of acquiring, possessing and protecting property, subject to such qualifications as provided for in this Constitution”.

Article 17 (a) notes that “all persons, at all times, in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good to instruct their representatives, to petition the government or other functionaries for the redress of grievances and to associate fully with others or refuse to associate in political parties, trade unions and other organizations.”

Article 22 (a) states that: “Every person shall have the right to own property alone as well as in association with others; provided that only Liberian citizens shall have the right to own real property within the Republic”.

A source closed to the PLP Standard Bearer have confided in FPA that the amount of US$200 is being paid daily as parking fee for the helicopter in Ghana.

When the helicopter is permitted to land in Liberia, it would boost government’s revenue generation and also provide job opportunities to citizens.

In other African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, among others, helicopters, planes or jets are owned by private citizens, members of the opposition communities and others, void of any witch-hunting, preventing or denial of landing permits from the governments in those countries.

During past elections, the CDC was allowed to campaign with helicopters following the granting of landing permits by the Sirleaf led-administration.

But with its flagrant disrespect for the rule of law over the granting landing permit for Dr. Cassell’s helicopter and the unwavering and extra energy being applied and interference in the Cummings’ and others trial, it implies that the CDC led-government of President George Manneh Weah is using the courts to go after its political opponents, instead of gunning them down secretly, assaulting or incarcerating them as done by previous regimes in the past.