| Summary of the Case |
The Inquirer Newspaper in its April 15, 2025 edition reported that the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) had conducted an investigation which found that inflated insurance contracts were used to siphon millions of Liberian dollars from public coffers. According to the newspaper, those allegedly involved in the scheme include: MCSS Superintendent James A.S. Momoh, MCSS employee Sonita Dangan, and Kabineh Keita of Sky Insurance. The newspaper alleged that Dangan’s account at Sapelle International Bank (SIB), which was dormant since July 2022 was suddenly reactivated on September 19, 2024, with a LRD$4,500 deposit. According to the report, several days later, Madam Dangan received two large cheque deposits from Keita totalling LRD$8.1 million, but the FIA found no corresponding business dealings between them. Referencing the FIA report, the newspaper stated that money was withdrawn in cash within weeks, which allegedly suggested that the account was being used as a conduit for laundering public funds. The Newspaper report revealed that the total deposit was in the tons of LRD$9,972,189, and total withdrawal was in the tone of LRD$9,791,154.
The Newspaper report further revealed that FIA investigation uncovered evidence of scholarship opportunities intended for MCSS teachers to study in India being traded for cash by the MCSS administration.
The newspaper also revealed that the FIA investigation uncovered travel expenses covered by the Government of Liberia for each scholarship recipients was charged US$920.00 raising suspicions of extortion and profiteering. According to the report, the FIA Investigation also revealed that Superintendent Momoh is identified as the central figure suspected of misappropriating the scholarship funds for personal gain.
The newspaper also noted that the matter had been forwarded to the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission for investigation and subsequent prosecution. |
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