Commentary: American-Liberians Found Guilty of Corruption in Liberia Must Have their Days in court in US 

The culture of corruptions is deeply rooted in Liberia and goes on at almost every level of the Liberian society INCLUDING GOVERNMENT. The acts of corruption over the years has cost Liberia fortunes and deprived its citizens of THE much needed resources for development and progress. What is even more disappointing is the case of returning Liberians some of whom are naturalized CITIZENS in other countries, including the US.

I know there are some in the current government who are truly making the difference while there are others who are engaged in corruptions.

One will expect that haven't lived and worked in the advanced western societies, some of these individuals will exhibit greater sense of morality and good ethical behaviors in discharging their duties. You would think the inherited moral standard from foreign countries should be transcended to their beloved country, Liberia. But instead, they go back to do thing the way we have always done. To add insult to injury, many of those implicated in corruption have done so with impunity. These corrupt crops of Liberians returning and engaging in corruption tarnishes the reputation of every one  who live in the Diaspora and have the intention of one day returning to help our country recover from many years of fratricidal war. It is highly recommended that all those found engage in corruption must be prosecuted so as to serve as a deterrent for others who may want to engage in similar act.

From all indications, the way we talk in our community gatherings, it appears we are all fed up with corruption in Liberia but when we are given the opportunity to serve, we become willing participant in the very act we've condemn others for. Beside the high profiled cases of corruption by those in the employ of the government, as a Liberians, we have a very low moral standard when it comes to corruption. It is an acceptable norm and practice for us to accept or request bribes behind closed doors in various offices. We have to develop strong moral consciousness in rejecting all forms of corruption in our society. It may take a long time but it has to start from somewhere. Effective whistle-blowing protection and anti-corruption measures must be taken to prosecute and punish anyone guilty of corruption. Various civil society organizations, media institutions, law enforcement agencies must conduct periodic anti-corruption sensitivity trainings to their staffs and personals.  

For those naturalized American Liberians who are found guilty of corruption and think they can run back to the United States to avoid prosecution in Liberia, we must be very vigilant in reporting them to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for prosecution. We must provide creditable information to our local FBI offices that may lead to criminal proceedings against them. Every United States citizen is encouraged to appropriately conduct himself/herself at all times inside and outside of the country. They should act as good-will ambassadors of their country of naturalization therefore, committing crime in Liberia and running back to the U.S. must not be tolerated.

The most glaring example of this is Charles McArthur Taylor Jr. 31, a US citizen, who was found guilty and sentenced to 97 years in US jail in October 2008 for crimes committed while he was the head of Liberia's Anti-terrorist Unit during his father, Charles Taylor’s rule in Liberia. He was also alleged to have tormented his victims with melted plastic, electric shocks, scalding water and beatings with "sharp metal rods". This case of crime committed by a United States citizen in Liberia who ran to the US was prosecuted and found guilty and now is serving long jail sentence . This must serve as a warning to all naturalized American of Liberian origin that the days of free riding back to the US after committing economic and other crimes in Liberia are over. It is about time for all Liberians in the Diaspora to advocate the lawful persecution of naturalized American-Liberians and others alike on the run from prosecution in Liberia.

Great progress is being made by independent media entities and individuals in exposing corruption and those involved but we have not heard of anyone been convicted and sentenced. It is one thing to expose these criminals but totally another thing to prosecute them. Moreover, when found guilty,  they must be locked up or their properties confiscated as a way to restitute what they have stolen from the country.

Just to name few of the pending cases, there is the case of the former transitional president Charles Gyude Bryant and four others including David N. Zarlee, former Director, Budget Bureau; Justin E. Taylor, Joseph T. Giddings, Amos P. K. Brosius, all of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC)) to the tone of $927,000.00 as well as the former Minister of Finance, Losene Kamara. The most recent is the case of the former Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh who is accused of embezzling over $200,000 as reported in an audit reports by the country’s General Auditing Commission. Bropleh has said he is prepared to go to court in order to clear his name. He went on to accuse Auditor General John Morlu II of incompetence and bias. His case is pending. The most we have seen the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s government do is to fire or suspend the accused and after that the case is closed. The government must go beyond suspension and firing of individuals found guilty of corruption. It must prosecute and if found guilty they must face the full weight of the law.

__________________ 

Alieu Jabateh, resides in Sharon Hill, Pa. Email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Comments (17)

	1. 30-01-2010 11:44
	Very Informative and Inciteful.......... Alieu,     You made some very key points but unfortunately by injecting ethnicity in your title, you compromised the credibility of the good research you did on the topic. The backgrounds of the names you provided that are involved in or being investigated for corruption runs the gamut of ethnicities in Liberia. Why did you make it appear that only the Americo-Liberian has been found to be corrupt? One’s ethnicity has nothing to do with whether a person is going to be corrupt or not.       The second point is that Liberians have to start appreciating democracy. We all espouse for a government of three separate but equally independent branches----the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary. However, our thinking has been so programmed and skewed that when it comes to assigning critical roles of each branch, we tend to default back to the Executive Branch. The Liberian president (an all imperial head is suppose to be responsible for everything; including the making of law and adjudicating the law). Can any government in the world achieve success in fighting corruption without independently supportive and involved Judiciary and Legislative Branches?     The Executive has shown the resolve in establishing an independent auditing bureau, GAC; an Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC); passed an executive order as a precursor to the Whistleblower Law; and met international acclaimed in its transparency policies on the extractive industry.       You mentioned that the president only suspends and or fires accused culprits of corruption. But that is exactly what the Executive Role should be. We should be calling for serious reforms and for strengthening of the Judiciary Branch in order to fast track and actively deal with corruption cases. This is a co-equal branch of government and must be held to high standards in the conduct of its role if we are to be successful in fighting corruption nationally. The president should not play the role of the court system this is the role of the Chief Justice.

Zobong

	2. 30-01-2010 12:22
	Time to push something Maybe we need to start pushing something or some form of civil law or criminal actions against the ones that are returning to the U.S and other developed countries. I know for sure that former information minister Bropleh holds his blue book. He's probably in the process of finding his way back here. I am currently exploring the possibility (ies) of pushing for some of these criminals prosecution once they are indicted in Liberia with extraordinary documentary evidence that I can lay hands on to enable me convince judges in U.S courts.   When I resided in Ghana as a refugee, I remember (and can reference several witnesses) seeing Dr. Bropleh on Legon (University of Ghana) Campus in Accra in the presence of few Liberians describing Liberia as “that your country there”. Lots around him thought he was referring to another country. When asked by one Liberian which country he was referring to? Bropleh said, “Liberian”. He overtly told the gathering that he was a U.S citizen. Today, he’s one of those preaching against the very life he lives. Works are underway to get some of these criminals busy in America. \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' target='_blank'>http:// This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sam K Zinnah

	3. 30-01-2010 14:52
	Zobong, It's American-Liberian, not Ame Zobong, I think you misunderstand Alieu on the phrase "American-Liberians." I think he simply means Liberians who have obtained American citizenship through naturalization." There are some of such Liberians who flee justice by returning to the US. Alieu believes that American-Liberians who engage in corruption in Liberia are giving some of us bad reputation and as such we should never hesitate to take action against them through the US legal system. Whether that is legally possible is another question altogether.

Nvasekie Konneh

	4. 30-01-2010 15:30
	American-Liberian NOT Americo-Liberian For the sake of constructive criticism, your comments are well taken. However, to say the article is “injecting ethnicity “, that is unfortunate on your part. What being discuss in the article is Naturalized American-Liberians Not Americo-Liberian (Former free slave –call Congo). Naturalized American-Liberian (Liberians who are now citizen of the United States) Commenting on the same article Sam Zinnah even suggested that Dr. Bropleh is a naturalized American (American-Liberian). If Dr. Bropleh is a naturalized United States citizen, then this article is referring to him and others alike. As a true patriot, promoting ethnicity in any form is not part of my will but discussing relevant issues that affect our beloved country Liberia should be a matter of must for us all. In short, it is President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf responsibility to strengthen our government after all it is her administration.

Alieu Jabateh

	5. 30-01-2010 17:29
	What? Zobong,American Liberian is different from Americo Liberian,you putting a spin to this man article.

F. Bah

	6. 30-01-2010 20:18
	What? if a Liberian naturalize as citizen he become Liberian-American citizen not American Liberian.    if a American naturalize as Liberian he become American-Liberian citizen.

Thomas

	7. 30-01-2010 20:34
	What? Zobong smell the rat..this article is very wary, first of all Congo people are not Americo-Liberians, Congo people are Liberians of Congo descent.    the given name to Americo-Liberians by Bassa ethnic group is called "konga" meaning selfish, let straighten the different names.

Gargar

	8. 31-01-2010 01:34
	Oversight: I stand corrected........... Alieu,    I stand corrected. I actually just realized the differences in the spelling. This old man needs to clean his glasses better. Thanks for bringing this to my attention guys. There was no ill-intent just an oversight that I regret. Besides Alieu, this even adds to my compliments of your article.     I also agree with the points to keep those being indicted for corruption in Liberian courts from finding safe haven in the United States.

Zobong

	9. 31-01-2010 09:24
	Oversight: I stand corrected........... The opposition leader of Canada possesses American citizenship so what wrong with any Liberian obtaining U.S citizenship during the war if you read the observer Ellen said the law will soon change because there are many Liberians who were born and live in exile.

Revens

	10. 31-01-2010 09:29
	Oversight: I stand corrected........... Alieu,    You touched on an issue that should be of concern to us all. A certain perception is growing now in Liberia which associates persons in government with US passports as being corrupt. Your caption as well as your botched explanation in post #6 as to who it is you describe as 'Liberia Americans' is an unecessary distraction to the core issues at stake.     Thomas in post #6 is right by sorting out the confusion over what is the right name for Liberians who have obtained US citizenship. Americo-Liberian and American Liberian are synanymous terms referring to Liberians of American heritage. Liberian Americans, on the other hand, is a reference to US citizens of all Liberian ethnicities. That's why Amricans of Irish descent, for instance, are not called American Irish but Irish Americans. Being called a Ghanaian Liberian is different from being a Liberian Ghanaian. In either examples, the two compound names mean two very different things.    From my understanding of whole thrust of this article is a about a growing perception of notoriety attached to a certain class of people in the Liberian government. Some Americans of Liberian ancestry are returning to Liberia with nefariuos intent to sponge-off the nation's meager financial resources. What is frustrating is we have a government in Liberia that is not showing any willingness to execute criminal prosecution proceedings against these criminals. This lack of judicial action reinforces the perception that the Sirleaf Administration does not take the issue of corruption as being a serious problem. Unless we see action on the part of this Administration in the form of the criminal prosecution of Liberian Americans and others caught up in financial scandals involving thefts of large sums of money, this negative image will persist.    You are right that it is unfair that after committing their criminal activity in Liberia, they would retreat to enjoy their loot in these United States without facing any sort of punishment. \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' target='_blank'>http:// This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lee Wuanti

	11. 31-01-2010 13:19
	Oversight: I stand corrected........... Dual Citizenship, Finally?  -----------------------------  In her address to the National Legislature and people of Liberia earlier this week, President Sirleaf took the time to welcome the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s “recommendations regarding the Liberian Diaspora, which appear to be feasible and do not infringe on any constitutional right of the individual:    “That Liberians, their relatives and offspring who migrated to foreign parts on account of the civil crisis or who migrated to foreign parts prior to the civil war but remained in foreign parts on account of the civil crisis and…had to acquire foreign nationalities, benefit from…their foreign nationalities without forfeiting their Liberian citizenship.”    She concluded that segment of the paragraph dealing with the Diaspora by serving the Legislators notice and informing citizens at home and abroad that she was prepared to work with them “to give these citizens an opportunity to live in and work for their country once again.

Rebecca Togba

	12. 31-01-2010 15:40
	Oversight: I stand corrected........... Your point is well made Alieu...Liberia has bled for so long...

Well Done Jabateh

	13. 31-01-2010 21:41
	Oversight: I stand corrected........... Currently, political appointees who are known to be Americans of Liberian descent should be blocked from confirmation by the Liberian Legislature. However, I use the word “known” because it seems that some officials have been able to go around this obstacle. It would be interesting to find out how many of them were successful in getting confirmed. I believe that Beyan Kesseley is an American citizen and someone also mentioned Laurence Bropleh. However, there are a few officials with Green Cards and are able to maintain their Green Card status while working in government. It appears that the legislature depends on disclosure by the appointees and doesn’t do its home work to contact the proper American authorities to determine/confirm naturalization. If this is the case, then the process is dysfunctional.    At first, I thought that the issue was partly due to the conflict of interest. Some have argued that it is not right having officials of government signing legal contracts on behalf of Liberia or to represent and negotiate the sovereignty of Liberia if they hold foreign nationality. However, if the process is not enforceable by the legislature, then it renders the entire process infantile. I think the biggest argument in favor of the dual citizenship is that it will assist to reverse the brain drain that was caused by the civil war.

Zobong

	14. 02-02-2010 11:38
	Oversight: I stand corrected........... Tenacity and risk - the Lebanese in West Africa   -----------------------------   BBC News     The crash of an Ethiopian aeroplane carrying Lebanese passengers to Addis Ababa has highlighted the strong ties between Lebanon and Africa.     Many passengers are believed to have been on their way to West Africa, where Lebanese are the biggest non-African migrant community.     There is an apocryphal story of how they came to be there.     Sometime toward the end of the 19 Century, a ship-load of Lebanese immigrants was heading to Brazil, seeking profit from the booming new world.     The first stop after several weeks sailing was Senegal and - the story goes - the somewhat unworldly Lebanese passengers got off believing they had arrived in South America.     True or not, it seemed the man who told me it might well have had cause to ask what on earth his forefathers were thinking when they moved to West Africa.     In the last 30 years the region has seen some of the most violent and terrifying breakdowns in law and order the world has known.     The region remains one of the most difficult and dangerous places to do business and succeed.     Nevertheless, the Lebanese community across West Africa, thought to be between 80,000 and 250,000 strong, has not only continued to do business but has thrived.     Despite this, ethnic violence directed against Lebanese communities in West Africa is rarer than one might expect in a region where communal tension over access to wealth and resources is often the flashpoint for trouble.     Merchants     The real story of the Lebanese in West Africa does begin with sea journeys in the late 19 Century.     But it is more likely they chose to go to West Africa because at around that time American countries tightened their entry requirements after high levels of immigration during the previous century.     The French government also ran a recruiting campaign in Beirut looking for middlemen to work the boom in West African groundnut farming, at a time of agricultural crisis in Lebanon.     The Lebanese in West Africa have always been merchants, using their connections abroad to source goods for import, and - like other migrant groups - they use their family networks to keep their costs down.     As a result they have built a strong economic presence across the region.     Nowadays, the Lebanese community has interests in many areas and are the backbone of most markets - car importing, mining, oil services, defence contracts - and the more shadowy worlds of gun-running, diamond-smuggling and crude-oil theft.     Risks     Doing business in politically volatile West Africa is not easy.     With a poorly-functioning legal system, contracts and other business agreements can be virtually worthless.     The Lebanese have discovered that the best way of surviving, where the regime you're doing business with could be overthrown tomorrow, is to court the powerful - whoever they are.     And an aspiring West African "big man" knows he has to do business with the Lebanese if he has any hope of getting rich.     Many Africans say openly how much they hate the Lebanese in their respective countries.     But the Lebanese tenacity, aptitude for business and drive to succeed mean they have been sown into the fabric of West African economics, politics and culture.     Story from BBC NEWS:

Rebecca Togba

	15. 03-02-2010 14:22
	Corruption I think any American/Liberian found wanting on corruption should have their time in court. \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' target='_blank'>http:// This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Danieletta Glenn

	16. 05-02-2010 19:29
	Corruption Was it uncertainty or a clever repudiation of the fact by Minister Lawrence Bropleh?  Moazu Mussa. Kromah, Accra- Ghana  May 26, 2009  -----------------------------    I was taken aback when the honorable minister of Information (Mr. Bropleh) referred to King Osman Kamara otherwise known as King Sao Bosso Kamara as Islamic King without giving much credibility to his contribution in brokering a rather rigid but timely negotiation between the settlers and the natives of the coastal land of Liberia. Our small history tells us that King Sao Bosso was the first native ruler who gave protection to the founders of the Liberian state and promised them the security they had never had from where they came.    I believe there is no such account (written or oral) that King Sao Bosso converted his subjects into Islam in any way that one will only think of him as “Islamic leader” as ascribed by the honorable Minister of Information. Quite frankly, it would have caused no sense of agitation had such pronouncement come from an obvious person rather than a supposedly intelligent, evenhanded, and a statesman like Minister Bropleh-a chief campaigner for “change in mind change in attitude.    Comments: this Liberia all you guys are fighting for the day Mali discover OIL boom I am sure you fellow will deny Liberia. everyone opposed your thought of Liberia you'll bring them down sir? only you fellows and the British know about the important of this King...Liberian ethnic group don't have kings only chiefs...I am afraid.

Gargar

	17. 05-02-2010 19:38
	The drama continue The legendary King has fore knowledge of the slave trade. He knew that the settlers were once our brothers and sisters and that they will continue to be as long as their skins are black like ours. I believe that was the driving force behind his mediation as a noble Mandingo King.    Certainly, there is much correlation between the seemingly charlatan display by the honorable minister of information and the ungrateful and illegal change or replacement of King Sao Bosso Street to Front Street in central Monrovia. The many streets in and around Monrovia named after the settlers (Congos and the Americo-Liberians) retain their names even though some of them do not have any historical bearings on the country to glorify. These moves are mere counterfeiting of the reality to hide or smear the unprecedented contribution the natives have made.    Many native Kings have suffered the same fate like the ambiguous nomenclature ascribed to a certain "King Long Peter" in many of our limited history books. What a mockery and ludicrous name of an African King who had no known relationship with the western hemisphere having the title of a king but with a western name. These situations need thorough investigations to keep our record straight like other nations.    Let us remember that a society where ungratefulness, prejudice, and insincerity are at their peaks, civility and good will of braveness to live and die for the land are nonexistence. Because great nations recognize and amplify the contribution of their national characters, so they have good citizens who would wish to be remembered for their achievements. Liberia will only grow and prosper only and only if we change our orientation of hatred, insincerity, laziness and deep-rooted collective guilt to a more loving, patriotic, and regard our common patrimony as a progressive integral whole as a nation      comment: it is the same Americo-Liberian who are obsesses with you name a street after you..why are you now criticizing them. They think you're great at voodoo to protect them obtain political power.

The drama continue

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