The Chairperson of Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has denied any admission of guilt of “financial impropriety” as disclosed by the country’s anti-graft agency last week.
Madam Davidetta Brown-Lassanah, described the recent pronouncement by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) indicting her and listed for prosecution for her alleged involvement in the procurement of goods and services from the Tuma Enterprises as false and misleading.
In what she characterized as a “general response” because as of the time of speaking to the media yesterday, Sunday, December 19, 2021, the LACC has not served her any response.
She explained that “on November 19, 2021, the LACC served her with letters of invitation to appear for investigation but before the ink could dry on the letter of invitation, the LACC sent it to local media and its Chairman later that day appeared on the Voice of America international broadcast to tell the World that the LACC had placed her under criminal investigation
The NEC Chairperson said she could not provide a detailed response to allegations in the LACC’s Investigation report and on December 17th wrote the LACC to request a copy.
Madam Brown Lansana lashed out at the LACC for leaking to the media investigation from the LACC as terming it “prejudicial” saying this has never before been seen been seen in the LACC’s investigative history.
“We believe that an agency with investigative and/or prosecutorial powers is obligated not to make, condone, or cause to be made public statements the agency knows or should reasonably know has the likelihood of prejudicing a criminal matter or heightening public condemnation of the target of an investigation.
The NEC Chairperson out rightly denied making any statement of guilt.
While she said she was awaiting the investigation report of the LACC in order to provide a detailed response, she invoked her Constitutional right of not guilty saying, “…an announcement to pursue an indictment should not raise inference of guilt as all accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law…”
The alleged corruption scandal is now challenging the credibility of the entire electoral body to preside over crucial by and upcoming Presidential and General Elections which will put the opposition against the incumbent ruling coalition of President George M. Weah.
Calls are mounting for the entire slate of Election Commissioners to recuse themselves or be suspended until they are cleared by the investigation since they are accused of approval of the improper decision to award a contract to a family member of the NEC’s Chairperson Ms. Brown- Lansana – a direct case of conflict of interest.
President George M. Weah and the country’s Ministry of Justice remain conspicuously silent on the matter.
President Weah pledged to implement measures that would give the Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutorial powers over cases deriving from the commission during a global democracy video conference that U. S. President Joe Biden hosted recently. Like in several of the President Weah’s pronouncement, no action has yet been advanced to the effect.
The Liberian Government is plagued by chronic allegations of graft and financial scandals which are sapping valuable resources and services intended for ordinary citizens.
President Weah and his top officials including Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor as well his senior and junior cabinet members are yet to make public their assets.
Dr. Weah cited “safety concerns for his adult children” for his refusal to unseal his assets. As Senator of Montserrado County, the CDC Standard Bearer declared his assets but declined to do so as President of the poor tiny West African nation of over three million people.
Weak financial and poor judicial systems feed a pervasive culture of impunity in the West African country.
African Star Legal Affairs Correspondent reporting from the Liberian capital Monrovia said that for Chairlady Brown-Lansana to cite constitutional protection after opening a press conference she organized after calming that she had not read the LACC report has the potential to keep the ” “financial impropriety” that occurred at the NEC in the news circle.
Chairperson Brown-Lansana is a tenure Chairperson of the NEC who can only be removed for “cause,” that includes corruption, mismanagement and misuse of public office.
It appears that Madam Brown-Lansana, a former Journalist of state-owned Liberian Broadcasting System, has come into the spotlight once again after years of absence from the practice of journalism, not on the side of reporting the news, but she is now dominating the Liberian news circles for corruption that she has covered for several decades as a journalist.
The country’s Justice Ministry is often reluctant to prosecute apologists and allies of President Dr. George Manneh Weah and his ruling CDC.
Madam Brown-Lansana enjoyed support among the CDC high-ranks that propelled her confirmation to the Chair of the NEC following a disappointing performance during her confirmation hearings before the Liberian Senate. It remains unclear whether both the LACC and the Justice Ministry will move forward to prosecute the “financial impropriety” allegations against Madam Brown-Lansana.
