Melvin Jackson
01 Oct
01Oct

The Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court,  J. Boima Kontoe, has ordered the immediate arrest and detention of several former high-ranking Liberian government officials for their alleged roles in the disappearance of a 53.34-carat diamond According to Judge Kontoe’s ruling, those accused of the criminal scandal include, former Justice Minister and Attorney General, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, former Mines and Energy Minister,  Gesler Murray, President, Diamond Dealers Association, Mustapha Tounkara, Korvah Baykah, James Biaku, Emmanuel T.J. Saye – Linked to appraisal, certification, and sale of the diamond Judge Kontoe’s findings followed Supreme Court’s mandate to investigate the legal irregularities surrounding the seizure and subsequent handling of the diamond. 

The court concluded that the entire process, including appraisal, certification, and sale under the Kimberly Processwas conducted under the influence of the Attorney General’s opinion, with no transparency or proper documentation. Network of Collusion & Secrecy. The ruling describes the case as involving “a network of a criminal cartel knitted in the author of connivance, secrecy and collusion.” The judge said it was highly unlikely that the diamond could have vanished without the involvement of high-level officials. The court ruled that unless the named individuals account for the diamond’s whereabouts, they must be arrested and jailed at Monrovia Central Prison. 

“They shall have been arrested and detained at the Monrovia Central Prison until they shall have found, answered, and detained the Monrovia question,” the ruling declared. Legal and political pundits have seen the court’s arrest and detention warrant as a landmark stance against alleged corruption and abuse of authority in Liberia’s natural resources sector and a bold move aimed at breaking the culture of impunity surrounding illicit gemstone dealings.


Author: Melvin Jackson

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