MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberia National Police is investigating James Larmin Kargbo, a 41-year-old Sierra Leonean for attempted theft, money laundering, fraud, impersonation, and other offenses.

Moses Carter, the chief for press and public affairs at the Liberia National Police, told a press conference on Friday that Kargbo had arrived in the country and engaged into discussions with government officials to negotiate a grant agreement for road development. He was arrested on Thursday evening following a tip from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

According to the police, the suspect and other accomplices who are yet to be identified, had been masquerading as business people who wanted to provide a grant to the government.

According to the police spokesman, the suspect also earlier told investigators that he had also been awarding grants for road construction to other African countries, including Egypt and Sierra Leone.

“While these conversations were ongoing between the suspect and his cohorts, they managed to criminally get access to the Federal Reserve code of Liberia,” he said.

Moses Carter, the chief for press and public affairs at the Liberia National Police. Photo: Zeze Ballah

He said the suspect and his collaborators, under a dubious company named “MEGA Strategic Partner Limited,” also requested US$32 million to be transferred from Liberia’s reserve account and credited to their account.

But he said the transfer request did not go through.

Meanwhile, the suspect has declined to comment on his arrest, as he told The Bush Chicken to wait for the prosecution.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah