MONROVIA, Montserrado – The taskforce established by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to investigate former and current government officials accused of alleged bribery has indicted three additional persons.

In a major news conference held on Thursday, June 9, Chairman Fonati Koffa named the latest indictees as Andrew Groves, the Chief Executive Officer of Sable Mining; Klaus Piprek, a South African and former Country Manager of Sable Mining in Liberia; and Richard Tolbert, the former chair of the National Investment Commission.

The recent Global Witness report had accused Tolbert of receiving US$50,000 from Sable Mining because of his role as head of an institution that was key in “granting licenses and setting terms for foreign investors.” The report also said Sable Mining made two separate payments of US$10,000 to the Invincible Eleven Football Club, of which Tolbert was president.

Koffa described the taskforce’s work as historic in that it was uncovering “the largest conspiracy” to steal Liberia’s natural mineral resources.

He said the taskforce was ready to arrest the individuals and would work with international partners to carry out the arrests.

“The taskforce is now moving to the process of requesting and working with the International Criminal Police Organization or INTERPOL to issue arrest warrants for Groves and Piprek, who are outside of the jurisdiction of Liberia,” Koffa said.

He added that the taskforce did not pursue an indictment for Phil Edmonds, the Chairman of Sable Mining in London, but that “as further evidence requires or [is] obtained, his status in the investigation may change.”

House Speaker Alex Tyler and Senator and Chairman of the ruling Unity Party Varney Sherman have both already been indicted and are now in court.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah