Monrovia — Trial jurors at Criminal Court 'C' on Monday, July 15, 2024, delivered a unanimous guilty verdict against five former officials of the Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL). The twelve jurors found the defendants guilty of five charges, including the theft of $96,875.00.
The former officials convicted are Madam Miatta K.K. Cojolo, former Executive Director; Ernree Bee Neeplo, former Program Manager; Ernest Vobah, former Finance and Administrative Manager; William Gibson, former Human Resource Manager; and Peter Collins, Board Vice Chairperson. The defendants were indicted by the grand jury for economic sabotage, theft, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, misapplication of entrusted property, speculation or wagering on official action or information, and criminal conspiracy.
The case began on October 21, 2021, when the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) received a complaint from the Advocacy and Legal Advice Center of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia. The complaint alleged misapplication of public funds and unethical conduct by some current and former staff and honorary members of PPAL. The LACC informed the court that the National Executive Committee of PPAL had constituted a steering committee to probe the audit report, which subsequently affirmed the audit findings in a memorandum dated October 8, 2021. The funds in question were part of a UNFPA project being implemented by PPAL.
During the trial, the defendants denied all allegations against them. They were arraigned in open court to answer whether they were involved in the crimes as charged. Following the verdict, the court requested the Ministry of Justice's probation office to conduct an investigation into the defendants' character and report back within one week. After this report, Judge Kennedy Peabody will sentence the defendants, who will be incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison and required to restitute the stolen funds.
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In response to the complaint, PPAL hired Parker and Company LLC on February 23, 2023, to conduct a forensic audit covering activities from 2013 to 2018. The audit revealed abuse of power, conflict of interest, wrongful procurement procedures, and off-budget spending. The LACC investigation found that on November 22, 2013, at PPAL headquarters in Monrovia, Cojolo, Neeplo, Vobah, Gibson, and Collins intentionally and criminally established PEWETA Security Company, using the names of relatives as purported shareholders. The investigation further established that Kadiyatu Sheriff, Victoria Gibson, and Syma Aaron Diawon were named as incorporators, with Kadiyatu Sheriff being Cojolo's niece and representing her interest in the firm. Similarly, Vobah, Gibson, and Collins had their spouses listed as shareholders without their knowledge.
Despite not following Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) procedures, PPAL entered into a contract with PEWETA Security Inc. on September 1, 2014, two months prior to legally establishing the company. The contract was for guard services at PPAL's headquarters and other offices, valued at $37,500.00 annually and renewed until 2018. The defendants conspired to have PPAL pay $96,875.00 to PEWETA Security Company, of which they were beneficial owners, for security guard services during the specified period.
