MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberian Minister of Justice said the mysterious death of former whistleblower and National Legislature consultant Michael Allison was caused by accidental drowning in seawater. He added that all investigations regarding Allison’s death are now concluded.

Justice Minister Benedict Sannoh told attendees at the Ministry of Information’s March 18 Press Conference  in Monrovia that two autopsies conducted by Sierra Leonean and United States pathologists confirmed that the late Allison died as a result of drowning in seawater. He said all other investigations into the Allison case are ordered closed as the government did not gather any criminal evidence surrounding his death.

Sannoh said, “The investigation did not cover any evidence of foul play or that his death was induced by the conduct of another person’s instrumentality. Accordingly, I must conclude and announce that the government of Liberia considers the death of the body found on Salt Beach as natural resulting from drowning.”

He said the investigations conducted by the Liberian National Police were intended to determine whether a crime had occurred and to identify, arrest, interrogate and charge those who the police may have probable cause to believe that they committed the crime.

On Feb. 12, the body of the late 48-year-old Michael Allison was found lying dead on a beach in Sinkor, Monrovia, with foam coming from his mouth and nose.

Allison’s death sparked huge public criticism about the fight against corruption in the country because he blew the whistle on a high-level corruption case that is now being investigated by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission. The corruption case involved two Ghanaian lawyers and the speaker of the House of Representatives.

On March 18, Sannoh told reporters that initial findings by the police suggest that no physical injuries were observed on the remains of Allison which was lying about 47 feet from the edge of the water.

He said due to the Ebola crisis, the LNP could not immediately remove the body until Feb. 12, when it obtained clearance from health authorities.
Sannoh revealed that after Allison’s body was taken to the Samuel Striker Funeral Parlor by the forensic department of the LNP, further examinations indicated smaller cuts on the neck, ear, hip and other parts of Allison’s body.

Sannoh said, “Under our law and practice it is the province of the expert medical personnel to establish the cause of death and the manner of death.”
Sannoh said throughout the investigation that no one had claimed family relations with the deceased attorney.
He called for family members to take Allison’s body, but said that they will be subject to DNA testing to authenticate their relationship with the late lawyer.

Featured image courtesy of Flickr’s mjmkeating