This paper has uncovered the payment of over US$250,000 to a bogus company that has no record of existence and service in Liberia and anywhere.

Multiple sources confided in The News over the weekend that the former Managing Director of the Liberia Airports Authority (LAA), Madam Ellen Corkrum is alleged to have made two payments to the Diaspora Consulting Engineering, a group she recommended to conduct emergency rehabilitation for the Roberts International Airport (RIA) runway and other pavements.

Our sources revealed that Madam Corkrum allegedly made two separate payments to Diaspora Consulting Engineering late last year for services the company did not render.

However, investigation conducted also revealed that Diaspora Consulting Engineering has no record of existence or operation anywhere. According to our sources, contact information provided by Madam Corkrum about Diaspora Consulting Engineering were counter checked and they could not find evidence of the company's listings in the United States.

To make matter worse, our sources added that the website of Diaspora Consulting Engineering is not functioning and the identities of individuals appeared bogus.

However, when this paper consulted the LAA office to get Madam Corkrum's side of the story, it was gathered that she already left the country for the United States. Other officials at the LAA office could not comment on the development.

Investigation continues.