Latest news from the Liberia National Police double deal saga says Deputy Police Inspector General Rose Striker has allegedly entered an informal agreement with a Lebanese businessman identified as Bassan to take over a contract earlier awarded to a Liberian businessman, requesting for 25% share.

Madam Striker has allegedly requested 25% share from the Lebanese businessman to take the contract from the Liberian businessman only identified as Edward Gbor. Police spokesman Sam Collins declined to speak on the fresh allegation against Deputy Inspector Striker when he was contacted by this paper Thursday, saying the issue was above him.

However, the Lebanese businessman Bassan is said to be out of the country. A team of journalists, who visited the Matelco Inc. business center were told by another Lebanese national, who claims to be brother of Bassan, he ( Bassan) was out of Liberia.

The Lebanese national refused to be identified by name, but promised to call the press as soon as his brother returns to Liberia. This paper was hinted recently that Madam Striker usually takes unilateral decision that affects the police force.

Liberian businessman Gbor won a bid to supply the police with uniforms and accessories, but it is reported that authorities of the Liberia National Police illegally took away the contract and awarding it to Lebanese businessman Bassan.

Sources hinted this paper that Deputy Police Inspector General Rose Striker, without the knowledge of the procurement office of the Liberia National Police cancelled the contract earlier awarded to Mr. Gbor and illegally awarded same to the Lebanese businessman.

Mr. Gbor told The NewDawn that Deputy Inspector General Rose Striker defrauded his company by announcing him official winner of the bid and later cancelling the contract for the sake of a foreign businessman.

He said after participating in a competitive bidding process with other entities for the supply of uniforms, shoes, robes, and badges, the police under the signature of Madam Striker formerly wrote him a letter on August 26, 2011, declaring him winner of the bid.

He frustratingly told this paper that upon receiving the notification from the LNP that he has won the bid, he immediately traveled to the United States of America and began the process of procuring over two thousand pieces of uniforms and accessories for the Liberian police.

According to him, he has spent over US$200,000 to ship some of the items to Monrovia, while paying storage fees in the US for the upkeep of the rest of the items there.

He said three months later, to his disbelief Deputy Police Inspector General Rose Striker wrote a communication dated October 6, 2011, informing him that the contract has been nullified on the basis of procedural error. The NewDawn has obtained copies of both letters.

Gbor said based on the action of the deputy police chief Striker, he immediately took the matter to the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), which investigated and found Madam Striker guilty for illegally cancelling the contract.

He expressed disappointment in Madam Striker for choosing to rob him of his contract he won legally. Police spokesman Sam Collins told this paper via mobile phone that the awarding of the contract was marred by fraud and dishonesty, but failed to specifically name anyone.

However, a PPCC ruling, a copy of which is in the possession of this paper noted that "After reviewing and analyzing documents submitted by the complainant and the respondent entity, and referencing the applicable provision of the PPCC Act and its regulations, the panel is of the opinion that Madam Rose Striker, Deputy Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP) acted illegally when she nullified complainant's award as winner of the police uniforms bid proceedings."

According to the document, the panel further ruled that the action taken by Madam Striker is not only in violation of the PPCC Act of 2010, as she had no authority under the said act to nullify a procurement proceedings or decision reached by the procurement committee of the LNP, but also an attempt to usurp the exclusive authority of the complainants, appeal and review panel conferred by the act.

The PPCC in its ruling said, there being no evidence of corruption, fraud, coercion, collusion or violation of the PPCC act by either the procurement committee of the LNP, or the Monrovia Merchandise Mart, the panel herby upholds the complainant's contention that the action taken by Madam Strike is contrary to the PPCC Act of 2010 and violation thereof, and also uphold the decision of the procurement committee of the LNP, declaring the Monrovia Merchandise Mart as belonging to the Liberian businessman, Edward Gbor, winner of the police uniforms bid proceeding as being consistent with law.

The PPCC has also instructed the Liberia National Police to proceed to award the police uniforms procurement contract to the Monrovia Merchandise Mart, as that was the stage at which the proceeding was when it was wrongfully and illegally interrupted and stopped.