Cllr. Pato Jarba, County Attorney of Bomi County, is accused of supporting the escape of a prime defendant, Fatu Kanneh, in connection with the sale and scrapping of equipment and machinery valued at over US$2 million without proper authorization.
Fatu, who is at large together with the administrative officer of Bomi County, Alphonso M. Sherman, and Abraham Barry, was charged with multiple criminal offences, including burglary, Theft of Property, Criminal Conspiracy, criminal attempts to commit theft, criminal facilitation, criminal solicitation, and criminal mischief.
The machines and equipment were placed in the possession of Mr. Hans Armstrong, a British investor, pursuant to a ruling by Judge Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court 'C' of Montserrado County, following a lengthy trial between Mr. Armstrong and the citizens of the Sackie township, Bomi County.
In a phone interview with a team of journalists, regarding the incident, the Regional CID commander of Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu Counties, Alex Diggs, claims that Cllr. Jarba was instrumental in the escape of defendant Fatu Kanneh.
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Alex Diggs further alleged that during a recent meeting at the Ministry of Justice, where he, Cllr. Jarba, Superintendent Miatta E. Dorley, defendant Sherman, and Mr. Armstrong were invited to discuss a complaint of constant harassment filed by Superintendent Dorley against Mr. Armstrong.
Unfortunately, according to Diggs, Mr. Armstrong did not show up for the meeting, claiming he had complained about the matter to the offices of President Joseph Boakai.
Surprisingly, Diggs said the meeting was canceled due to Mr. Armstrong's absence. But when they left the meeting, he saw the suspect, Fatu, standing with Superintendent Dorley.
"I quickly informed Cllr. Jarba, the prime suspect we have been looking for is there standing and holding a discussion with Superintendent Dorley," Diggs claimed. Diggs added that Cllr. Jarba instructed him to call Fatu, which he did.
"When Fatu walked to us, I reminded Cllr. Jarba wanted to arrest Fatu, but he refused to allow me to arrest her. Instead, the county attorney asked Fatu to report to his office the next day," Diggs alleges.
"The County Attorney is my boss, man, and whatsoever he tells me to do, I am under direct instruction to do so," Diggs said, responding to a question from a team of journalists. "This was the best time to arrest Fatu, but my boss made us miss the opportunity. Currently, I don't know the whereabouts of Fatu."
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When Cllr. Jarba was contacted he described the allegations as "baseless and rubbish."
"I can't respond to your questions. If you want the answers to your questions, you can go to my bosses, the Justice Minister and the Solicitor General," Cllr. Jarba maintains.
According to the court's document, defendant Sherman, along with co-defendants Fatu Kamara and Abraham Barry, both of whom are at large, was investigated and charged based upon a complaint filed against them by Hans Armstrong through his lawyer, Attorney Mbivulo Blama of the Liberia Law Group.
The court's document alleges that the defendants criminally and willfully did, in their individual capacities, whereas on May 16, 2025, defendant Sherman, with total disregard for the laws of Liberia and respect for property rights, published materials addressed to the Universal Scrap Dealers Company.
According to the complaints, on October 13, the law firm intimated that their client's earth-moving machines or equipment packed in Sackie Town, Senje District, Bomi County, were scrapped and sold by Sherman, as indicated in a notice of sale dated May 16, 2025.
