By Garmah Lomoh|Judiciary Contributor
Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice headed by Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay has dismissed charges against the former passport Director Andrew D. Wonplo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and restored his liberty.
The court’s decision follows a motion filed to by to dismiss charges against him by his lawyer due to failure of the prosecution to prosecute the matter.
LPR’s judiciary affairs correspondent said the court action was consistent with Chapter 18 section 18.2 of the Criminal procedure law which states that “dismissal by court or failure to proceed with prosecution after two successive term of court”.
Director Wonplo and a Nigerian national identified as Adedoyin E. Atiro were indicted by the state during the August term of court in 2019 on three crimes namely economic Sabotage, theft of property and criminal conspiracy.
According to the indictment, on the 13th of August A.D. 2019, the Liberia National Police through its Crime Services Division received a tip of that defendant Wonplo, former passport Director at the Ministry of Affairs and Adedoyin E. Atiro a Nigerian national for developed and designed a ‘scheme’ which as a direct result, the government of Liberia sustained the loss of USD 25,000.00 as its much needed revenue generation.
The LNP predicted upon the information constituted a special investigation team to investigate their involvement into said scheme that constituted into their direct commission of the crimes of Economic Sabotage, theft of property and Criminal Conspiracy respectively.
That co-defendant Andrew D. Wonplo at the time director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport department was entrusted with 4,250( four thousand two hundred and fifty) pieces of blank Liberian passports to be issued to Liberian.
Hence, while, co-defendant Andrew D. Wonplo was serving within the employ of government, and in the capacity as Director for passport, republic of Liberia, at the same time, charged with responsibilities to protect the image and dignity of the republic of Liberia, purposely, knowingly, willfully and intentionally signed and issued several pieces of passport to co- defendant Adedoyin E. Atiro.
The investigation further established that without remorse the two accused began to sell Liberian passports to non-Liberian within and out of the bailiwick of Liberia.
While co-defendant Adedoyin E.Atiro in this token issued a cash receipt of US 1,000.00 to victim Sarah D. Washington on the 16th day of July A.D. 2019, thereby causing the government of Liberia to lost US $25,000.00 as it was much needed for revenue generation.
Meanwhile, after the court ruling, reporters assigned at the Temple of Justice caught up with aquatinted former Passport Director Andrew D. Wonplo who he expected himself to be free by the court because he did nothing for which he should be convicted.
Mr. Wonplo told Liberia Public Radio that Liberia is a country of law even though the case against the republic of Liberia but don’t intend to take issue with the government for tarnishing his character because he is a strong CDCIANS and also these are things that happens in life for which one must expect.
Acquitted Wonplo added that what he wants to see is the logo of Coalition for Change must live on and he still remains a strong member or CDCIANS of the party and thank God that he exonerated from those crimes lavished against.
