Economic Sabotage Case Heats Up

By Ora Garway

State second witness in the economic sabotage case involving five former officials of the NTGL, Edwin Barquoi has testified that a team of investigators that probe the five accused, esatblished that they were involved in a conspiracy to defraud the Liberian Government.

He told court yesterday that the defendants allegedly defrauded the government through letter payment instruction, checks and the use of fictitious companies.

The state first witness Francois Junius earlier testified that a team of investigators investigated the accused and established that the defendants were involved in series of financial malpractices thereby defrauding the Liberian Government of millions of United States and Liberian dollars.

Those on trial include former Finance Minister Lusinee Kamara, and his principle deputies Tugbe N. Doe, Albert N. Quaye, Pyne Wallo and a former member of the Transitional Assembly Tapple Doe.

They are accused of diverting US$3.6million and L$11.6million during the transitional period. They have been indicted for economic sabotage. The trial is ongoing at the Criminal Court ”C” presided over by Judge Samuel Geevon Smith.

The list of additional state witnesses submitted to the court include Simeon F. Frank, Chief Investigator CSD/LNP, Victor Mensah, Serious Fraud Officer of Ghana.