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Liberia: Threats Hang Over Bribery Probe
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
1 April 2008
Posted to the web 1 April 2008
Morrison O.G. Sayon
As the House standing Committee on Judicial failed for the third time to resume what should have been the fifth sitting of the bribery case that is still looming over that august body, Human Rights Organizations and civil society groups in the country have threatened to withdraw from the much-talked about bribery case.
The civil society and human rights organizations that were accredited to observe the case said their threat is based on the continuous delay on the part of members of the House Judicial Committee to resume the case. The groups noted that members of the House who are also part of the Judicial Committee are dragging their feet on the matter so that at the end it would be swept under the carpet.
The bribery case sparked out some time last year when former House Speaker, Edwin M. Snowe, accused some members of the House of Representatives of receiving bribe to remove him from office as Speaker of the 52nd National Legislature.
The former speaker's statement was then buttressed by some lawmakers including Bong County Representative, Samuel Bondo on a local radio station that he indeed received US$5,000 to remove Mr. Snowe from office though he did not indicate the source of the money.
Margibi County Representative, Saa Richard Gbolie, on the other hand, admitted that he allegedly signed a press statement with other colleagues and received US$5,000 each to remove Mr. Snowe, something he has recently denied ever affixing his signature to any document.
Other lawmakers linked to the bribery allegation include, Montserrado County Representative, Kettekuemeh Murray and Grand Gedeh County Representative, Rufus Gbeoir. At the second sitting of the case in February, the four lawmakers denied ever taking bribe to remove District #5 Representative, Edwin Snowe as Speaker of the House.
The third and fourth sitting of the case was postponed last month as many members of the Judicial Committee were absent from the Joint Chambers of the House.
The few members of the committee present at the time could not form a quorum to carry on the case. Yesterday's sitting was the fifth but the case was again postponed due to the absence of four members of the Judicial Committee. The Chairman of the Judicial Committee, Rep. Armah Sanor, announced that the fifth sitting could not be convened due to the continuous absence of his committee members though he did not state any cogent reason why other members of the committee were absent.
But the action has been described as a deliberate attempt on the part of the lawmakers to delay the bribery case and sweep it under the carpet. Mr. Finley Y. Karnga, Legal Aid Officer of the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) and Jackson N. Wonde, Deputy Minister for Planning and Manpower Department at the Labor Ministry said their organizations are committing resources to the case while the committee continues to delay the case.
The groups then reminded the lawmakers that the issue of the bribery is very crucial as it is both national and international and as such they should note that the international community is watching Liberia with eagle eyes, in lieu of the bribery case.
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Chairman Sanor yesterday announced the resumption of the case on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at which time all members of the panel will be present. At the same time, Human Rights groups and civil society organizations observing the case have said that Wednesday will be the last option given to the lawmakers to resume the case as they will have no alternative but to withdraw from the case if the committee members refuse to attend again.
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