Monrovia - The Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission (LACC) is poised to undertake the prosecution of all those indicted for corruption by the Commission if the Justice Ministry fails to do so. This, according to the Chairman of the Anti- Corruption Commission, Attorney James Verdier Jr. in an exclusive interview with our staff writer. This could mean that Speaker Tyler, Representative Adolph Lawrence, newly-elected Sinoe County Senator Milton Teahjay and others could get booted from the legislature to face trial. The prosecution dragnet could also include the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) executives of the National Oil Company (NOCAL), and officials at the Ministry of Finance. Verdier’s declaration, if carried out, could shake up the government and breathe a new breath of life in the public’s quest for corrupt officials to be brought to justice and for the problem of widespread corruption in government to be addressed. Corruption has remained a serious problem in government and continues to undermine the country’s postwar recovery and reconstruction. The country’s infrastructure and social services remain in ruins as government officials continue to amass personal wealth, amid government failure to hold anyone accountable. Many commentators even blame the failure of the country’s health care system to address the recent Ebola outbreak on the corruption that has siphoned resources away from building a robust healthcare system. It has been about 90 days since the Anti-Corruption Commission presented its findings to the Ministry of Justice with recommendations for prosecution. And, as has happened in the past, the Ministry has taken no action towards charging and prosecuting the officials. Several officials indicted in the past, either by the Anti-Corruption Commission or the Auditing Commission and presented to the Justice Ministry, escaped prosecution due to the Ministry’s failure to prosecute. Verdier’s determination to pursue prosecutions in spite of the Justice Ministry’s decision aims to change this situation and may lead to a major shake-up in government, including the removal of House Speaker Alex Tyler and several other legislators and government officials, including the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) and executives of the National Oil Company (NOCAL). It could also force the hand of a reluctant Ministry of Justice to actually prosecute. Citing the law that established his commission Verdier noted that “the LACC Act of 2008 (Sections 11.3 & 11.4) gives the LACC the authority to take, seize of the cases submitted to the Ministry of Justice after the expiration of 90 days if the Ministry, for whatever reasons fails, neglects or reneges on prosecution. So, the LACC can on its own prosecute these cases. And we are determined to do so, we are prepared to proceed with all of the cases presented to the MoJ after three (3) months of non- action on them by the Justice Ministry,” Verdier declared. frontpageafricaonline/index.php/news/4366-lacc-to-bite-speaker-probe-oil-firm-looms-as-90-day-ends
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 05:55:31 +0000
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