| Summary of the Case |
The undisputed facts culled from the certified records before this Court show that J. Brownie Sumakai, former Minister of National Defense, co-appellant herein, having consulted with the AFL’s high command sometime between July and August 2009, established the compulsory savings scheme for members of the AFL to augment the benefits accruing to service members under the Pension Act. The scheme requires members of the AFL to make compulsory monthly contributions from their salaries. An Ecobank Account No.1092-522-22019 bearing the title “AFL PENSION ACCOUNT” was created for that purpose. Co-appellant Sumukai and former Comptroller J. Nyumah Dorkor, also co-appellant, cosigned the said account as signatory “A” and “B”, respectively. Later, Joseph P. Johnson, former Deputy Minister for Administration of the Ministry of National Defense, also a co-appellant, became the third signatory to the AFL Pension Account and cosigned as an additional signatory “A”.
The purpose of the compulsory savings scheme was to supplement the Government of Liberia retirement benefits to the men and women in uniform at the end of their active service to the country and cater to those who may have sustained disability during active service. This scheme was operationalized by deductions made from the salaries of the rank and file of the AFL service members ranging from US$5.00 to US$75.00 depending on the ranks of uniform personnel from 2009 up to and including October 2017.
The three were found guilty of theft of property, criminal conspiracy, and misuse of public money among others for embezzlement from the Army's compulsory savings account. The defendants were ordered to restitute the amount of USD687,656.35 to the AFL pension Saving account and USD460,000.00 to the government of Liberia account, making a sum total of USD1,147,656.35. The Court did not find evidence of Economic Sabotage and Money Laundering, and both charges were ordered dismissed. Meanwhile, the sentence will be pronounced pending pre-sentence investigation in obedience to chapter 31, section 31.5 of the criminal procedure law.
The ruling means Samukai will not be allowed to serve as Senator of Lofa County.
Brownie Samukai, a staunch critic of incumbent President George Weah and a stalwart of the former ruling Unity Party, was elected during the 2020 midterm Senate election but was barred from taking his seat after he was found guilty of raiding the Army coffers.
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| Nature of the Case |
The Supreme Court of Liberia handed down two-year prison sentences to former defence chief Brownie Samukai along with deputies Joseph Johnson and James Nyuman Ndokor after they failed to return one million euros worth of stolen money from a government pension account. The three were found guilty of theft of property, criminal conspiracy, and misuse of public money among others for embezzlement from the Army's compulsory savings account. The defendants were ordered to restitute the amount of USD687,656.35 to the AFL pension Saving account and USD460,000.00 to the government of Liberia account, making a sum total of USD1,147,656.35. |
