- The head of Liberia's Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, has rejected accusations of selective prosecution in the ongoing anti-corruption drive, saying the taskforce does not target individuals based on political affiliation but rather follows the evidence wherever it leads.
Speaking Monday on the Super Morning Show on ELBC Radio, Martin emphasized that the taskforce, established under Executive Order No. 145, is guided by professionalism, due process and an unwavering commitment to justice.
"We don't investigate people; we investigate crimes," Martin said. "Once you are linked to a case under investigation, you will be invited--regardless of your position or political ties."
His remarks come amid growing public concerns that the taskforce is disproportionately focused on former officials of the George Weah administration while sparing allies of the current Unity Party-led government.
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But Martin dismissed such claims as unfounded, maintaining that several individuals currently serving in government are also under investigation.
Scope of the Investigations
Martin disclosed that the taskforce is actively pursuing 26 criminal investigations involving alleged theft of public funds and abuse of entrusted government resources. He added that 40 properties deemed "suspicious" have also been flagged for review.
"We are examining how these properties were acquired," he said. "If a public servant earning $1,500 a month builds a six-bedroom duplex in a prime neighborhood, we must ask the legitimate question--where did the additional financing come from?"
Martin said the taskforce is not rushing to indict anyone but is methodically building evidence to determine culpability. He added that several bank accounts containing "millions of U.S. dollars" have been identified and are under investigation.
"Some accounts we've uncovered hold huge sums," he said. "Once we complete the investigation and verify the legitimacy of these funds, we'll act accordingly--but we won't jump the script."
The taskforce's credibility was put to the test on June 24, with the indictment of more than a dozen former senior officials over their alleged roles in the misappropriation of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023.
Among those indicted are:
- Former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah
- Former General Services Agency (GSA) Director-General Mary Broh
- Former National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Executive Director Henry Williams
The group, along with others from the NDMA, GSA, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, face charges including theft of property, economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy and abuse of office. The rice, totaling 29,412 bags, was intended for disaster victims. However, more than 25,000 bags reportedly vanished without trace.
Martin declined to discuss the case further, citing its status before Criminal Court "C."
"We won't discuss matters before the court," he said. "Our responsibility is to investigate, request indictments, and allow the grand jury and court process to determine guilt or innocence."
Restitution and Clearance
Martin said the taskforce is open to voluntary restitution, noting that individuals who admit to wrongdoing and agree to repay stolen funds may benefit from legal leniency.
"If someone comes forward, confesses, and offers restitution, we will consider it within the bounds of the law," he said. "Our goal is recovery."
He also revealed that some individuals who were invited for questioning and found not to be involved in wrongdoing have been issued official clearance certificates.
"We appreciate those who cooperated with our team and were found not liable," he said. "They were cleared after we concluded they bore no responsibility."
International Collaboration
Martin said the taskforce is strengthening international cooperation, with assistance from partners in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Sweden to trace illicit assets and recover properties abroad.
"International support shows the seriousness of our work," he said. "We are building our capacity and relying on intelligence-led strategies."
He added that the taskforce will seek help from Interpol and pursue extradition if any suspects flee Liberia.
"No one will escape justice by traveling," he said. "We will use international legal frameworks to ensure accountability."
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AREPT was originally created through Executive Order No. 126 and later extended by Executive Order No. 145, which gave the taskforce a 12-month operational window. Martin believes that time frame is insufficient given the volume of cases.
"Investigating 26 corruption cases and reviewing 40 suspicious properties in 12 months is not realistic," he said. "The president is reviewing our mandate, and we expect it to continue."
He said several cases are scheduled for the August Term of Court and that jury trials will be sought in some of the high-profile matters.
Martin announced plans for a nationwide awareness campaign to encourage citizens to report suspicious assets and financial misconduct.
"We're urging Liberians--from Zwedru to Maryland, from Nimba to abroad--to help us identify unexplained wealth and state property being misused for personal gain," he said.
He concluded by reaffirming his personal commitment to the anti-corruption effort, despite the risks involved.
"This job is dangerous," Martin said. "But I've accepted the risks because someone must take the lead to fix this country. We're not here to witch-hunt--we're here to restore integrity in public service."
