MONROVIA, Montserrado – On Friday, Richard Tolbert, one of the newest inductees in the ongoing Global Witness report investigation, filed a US$150,000 criminal appearance bond before Judge Emery Paye at the Temple of Justice.

On Thursday, the presidential task force investigating cases of alleged bribery indicted Tolbert; Andrew Groves, Chief Executive Officer of Sable Mining; and Klaus Piprek, a South African who was the former Country Manager of Sable Mining in Liberia.

Tolbert, the former chair of the National Investment Commission, is accused of receiving two separate payments of US$10,000 from Sable Mining. The payments were made to the Invincible Eleven Football Club while he was the club’s president.

(L-R) Richard Tolbert and His Lawyer Syrenius Cephas. Photo: Zeze Ballah

According to Tolbert criminal appearance bond, he is being charged with bribery, economic sabotage, and fraud.

The defendant was able to secure his bond from the Insurance Company of Africa.

Following the filing of the bond, Tolbert told journalists that he is disappointed, noting the “his indictment was a sad day for him and Liberia.”

“I’m sure that when all the facts are shown, my name will be clear,” he said.

Tolbert added that he spent a lifetime of hard work and dedication of serving Liberia and even the youths through football, pointing out that “unfortunately things have ended up in this manner.”

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah