Asset Recovery Team Summersault?

-Indicts Samukai

The Asset Investigation, Recovery and Restitution Team has prepared an indictment against former Minister of Defense (MOD) Brownie Samukai for reportedly misapplying the AFL windows’ money contrary to its pervious statement of allowing him (Samukai) pay back the amount in question.

Former Minister Samukai was among several past and present officials of Government that were hooked or listed in an audit report conducted by the GAC and LACC in 2016.

The team some time ago, in a news conference at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) announced that Mr. Samukai has admitted to the commissioned of the crime accused of and vow to pay back the money.

In that conference, the team through its Chairman Cllr. Arthur Johnson mentioned that the team was not going to indict Mr. Samukai since he had promised to pay back the money.

According to him, there was no need to indict a person when he or she had confessed judgment and expresses willingness to restitute the money alleged of.

But at it stands now the team is seeking the indictment of the former Defense Minister contrary to its previous move.

“In the case of Former Minister Brownie Samukai, he took responsibility of the money with promise to pay. Even though he explained that he use the money for different purpose relative to the same army,” Cllr. Johnson.

Cllr. Johnson indicated that the team was more focus or interested in recovering or restituting stolen funds than indictment as it would cause government more money to indict a person or persons.

It is still unclear why the team is now seeking the indictment of Samukai alone with his deputy for administration for misusing monies belonging to the Arm Forces of Liberia windows after Samukai has agreed to restitute the amount.

At the same time, the indictment has not been made public as said indictment according to Montserrado County Attorney Edwin Martins is yet to be served on Mr. Samukai, this either because he (Samukai) cannot be located at the moment.

It can be recalled that early this year, President George Weah setup a special investigative team of legal minds to among other things go after past and current corrupt public official captured in the LACC and GAC audit reports. TNR