Monrovia – Legislative sources have told FrontPageAfrica that three members of the Liberian Senate (Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, Edward Dagoseh, and Peter Coleman) are being investigated over their alleged manhandling of more US$300,000 intended to pay staff and senators for the extra sitting called by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
“I am not allowed to disclose what is discussed behind closed door.”
“There is a rule that prevents me from doing that, so if there is anything the public need to know it will come from the Pro-Temp of the Senate.” – Sen. Lawrence
According to our source, the Senate set up a committee headed by Sen. Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, but the three Senators have refused to cooperate with the investigation.
FrontPageAfrica further gathered that based on the refusal of the embattled Senators to cooperate with the investigation, other members of the Senate who are now victims of the alleged corrupt act, are calling for the expulsion of the three Senators from the Senate.
Other Senators are calling for a lesser punishment and that they should be removed from committees and be made to restitute the money.
When contacted, Senator Karnga-Lawrence refused to confirm or deny whether there was such investigation on going with the Senators, but said in a telephone interview:
“I am not allowed to disclose what is discussed behind closed door.”
“There is a rule that prevents me from doing that, so if there is anything the public need to know it will come from the Pro-Temp of the Senate,” she said.
Senators named in the scandal were tight-lipped, despite all attempts by journalist Wednesday to have them comment on the allegation; but sources say the Senate is expected to come up with the full report Thursday for a decision.
The amount in question according to sources is US$425,000, our source said.
The three senators received the full amount from the Ministry of Finance as payment for the extra sitting.
Our source said, of the amount, US$125,000 was intended to pay the staffers of the Legislature who were compelled to return with their bosses.
Our source further told us that Sen. Milton Teahjay who managed to get a copy of the voucher from a confidant at the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning who the one who informed his colleagues about the alleged syndicate.
Sources close to one of the accused also told FrontPage Africa that the though the money was received, only 50% of total amount was released by the Finance Ministry and said amount was disbursed to members of Senate based on positions on committees.
“We received the money but it was half of the money the Senate is expected to receive, so we decided to share it based on category; that is people who return to the special session would receive 50 percent of what they were expected to receive,” the source said.
One of the names mentioned in the alleged scandal is Senator Peter Coleman Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health. He was early this year accused of receiving payments from the JFK Hospital which was contrary to Article 90b of the Constitution.
He, however, argued that the money he received from Hospital was a professional fee.
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