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My Indictment and Acquittal, The Untold Story
Jan 15, 2008
Varfley A. Dolleh
 The Economic Sabotage Trial-First Degree Felony
Introduction:
Corruption remains a cancerous maniac whose fight continues to be the focus of progressive governments with Liberia being of no different. Imbued with this spirit, when accused of involvement in financial embezzlement, there became the need to brawl in exonerating my self in a competent court of jurisdiction, in that, under our penal code, “one is presumed innocent of a charge until proven guilty”. Now with the final verdict of acquittal by the “Supreme Court of Liberia”, I am joyful that the questionable stigma is removed. I owe the community and posterity unborn an explanation so that sanity will prevail when my legacy is unraveled in years to come. What are the true realities in this infamous “Economic Sabotage Trial”?
Out Flight and Uncertainty
Amidst the pain of removing Mr. Taylor like every other Liberian, it was with excitement when new started filtering around that the “opposition forces” were consolidating gains gradually achieving what many thought was an impossibility. Like every politician, all roads led to Accra Ghana where the action was now focused. It is an open secret; in “International Diplomacy” we are told that at the end of a bitter war the belligerent forces usually sit at a round table to apportion the booty of the spoils of war. In short, the foot soldiers suffered and the politicians mainly enjoy the biggest dividend of the war with the various factional Struggles being of no exception.
Working with the “Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Program” as a Refugee Case Manager in Trenton, NJ, I felt the need to be at the receiving end opting for a position in the “Transitional Government”. So it was no surprised when I left my job and joined the flight to Accra, Ghana with the hope of helping the process so that I could make my own positive inputs. It must be understood that people were polarized on political, religious, societal or ethnic lines. Although, there was this atmosphere of apprehensiveness on the part of some guys in that I wasn’t part of the undertaking, but was around to be part of the history making process.
Face to Face with Charles Gudy Brayant:
Unearthing my side of this drama can never be completed unless the Brayant’s factor is unveiled. It was at the “Golden Tulip Hotel” in Accra, Ghana, when I first saw President Brayant lobbying for position with the various actors for position. It was a state of desperation in the hotel with every prominent politician trying to out smart the rebel factions at his or her detriment. I can vividly remember the “tall man with big shoes and big nose” speaking with some prominent lobbyists. At one point I can vividly recollect him telling me to brawl for him to be the President of the Transitional Government in return he would reciprocate same to me. This happened after a friend had introduced me to him.
Next face of the meeting was at a “Strategy Session” when it was agreed that a neutralist should be the head of the “Transitional Government”. I had explicit confidence in him in that he portrayed him self as a unifier with no political record. I personally supported him hoping that he would have delivered the goods at the end of the day, but to the contrary. It must be noted that at the time “Money Diplomacy” was the order of the day with politicians relegating themselves to political oblivion through bribery. It is a shame that many of those who are now championing the fight against corruption, were the same nourishing the practice in Accra, Ghana.
Although, had no saying, but had a gentleman agreement with President Brayant leading to his ascendancy as head of the “Transitional Government”. But as the saying goes “ When a revolution matures, it eats up it own children”. I became one of the first causalities of his rule. Upon his victory, I had come to see him the following morning at the guesthouse only to be told that I couldn’t see him. It was to my utmost surprise that this guy who portrayed him self as a saint and friend could no longer see me. From then on things never became the same up to the moment I was suspended by him unjustifiably.
Political Undertone:
In politics, it must be understood that divergent view is a tangible element in the profession, which makes it peculiar unlike others. I didn’t know that it was the anticipated view of the President that I joined his party, The Liberia Action Party (LAP). This was manifested when the Party Chairman Sheba Brown made it known that we needed to join the party. At the time she was the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation. It had been anticipated that we would have agreed in lieu of the fact that they were in power. We refused to capitulate leading to hatred by the status quo. Many days Chairman Brown made it known that unless we join the party, we were doomed.
It is with excitement to note that at the time the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), euphoria was at its apex following the first million-men welcome of Ambassador George Manneh Weah. The momentum was invigorating from all corners of the Liberian Nation. Political analysts were now convinced unless, other wise this fine son of the soil at that time was poised to have become the new Messiah of the Political dispensation.
It must be understood that at the time, we had put in gear the CDC Dream, with one of the first meetings held at the NASSCORP. This annoyed the status quo leading to in house fight and political machination to have us booted from the corporation.
Simultaneously, we were battling Mr. Samuel Thompson for submission in supporting his bid for the standard-bearer ship of Unity Party. Mr. Thompson was looking for money in his attempt to defeat Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Unity Party Convention in Kakata, Margibi County. He was the Chairman of the Board of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation. When the Director General and my self refused to give in surely, he and Madam Sheba Brown went in gear in having us tainted with “manufactured lies of corruption. They were able to have convinced some members of the “Worker’s Union” along with some disgruntled employees that we had fired before to concoct lies about financial malpractices.
Phases of Investigation:
Phase One:
Phase of one of the investigation was conducted by the “Board of Directors of the Corporation “ headed by Samuel Thompson and Co-chaired by Chairman Sheba Brown. This committee was empowered to do a detail assessment of the allegation leveled against us. Having met for over two weeks the committee finding saw no tangible proves of any wrong doing to merit dismissal. This annoyed Sheba Brown leading to her resignation as a member of the Board. While noting incriminating couldn’t be found, the both named supra vowed to have us removed surreptitiously.
Phase Two:
Immediately the Board contracted the services of “The Mombo Auditing Firm” to conduct an in house audit of the corporation. This went in gear hoping that the truth could come to reality. We cooperated and went through the hectic process only for the finding to be kept in secrecy, although no wrongdoing was found.
Phase Three:
In the wake of the uncertainty regarding the audit report, on the fateful date of July 12, 2005, Chairman Gudy Bryant at the Executive Mansion invited us. I had thought that it would have been a sort of reconciliatory meeting in that he had refused to meet a friend who helped him when he was nothing. While waiting in the conference room on the fourth floor, he came with Sheba Brown in an emotional out burst and said that we were suspended as “Director General and Deputy Director General” respectively with immediate effect. He couldn’t even allow us to explain our side of the story. It was a side day for me. Even before we left the Mansion our offices doors had been sealed with police posted at the gates.
Chairman Bryant mandated the Auditor General of Liberia at the time, professor Johnson with monitors from the EU to conduct a comprehensive financial audit of the corporation and report finding as soon as possible. But to our outmost surprise, despite cooperating the government refused to unearth the finding. The finding was only leaked to the public when the “Inquirer and the News Newspapers” published the full detailed of the report. This was an embarrassment to the government hoping that now that the truth had come to light we would have been reinstated, but to no avail.
Phase Four:
Sensing the popularity of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), and in realization that L.E.Orishall Gould and your humble servant were both senior members of the party, it was now a perfect time to unsealed an indictment against us to undermine Ambassador Weah. It must be noted that Mr. Gould was the Chairman of the Party, while your humble servant was the Chairman for political and propaganda affairs. As a result of the stigma, we seldom spoke at programs of the party. Many exploited the situation with the hope of silencing us from politics
On our campaign trail in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, we heard the news that Justice Minister Kabine Janneh was about to have us arrested. I felt the need to talk to him in that it wasn’t fair to indict us in the wake of facts. Apart, we had been earlier exonerated. Our first encountered was at the National Police Headquarter at Capitol Hill when he told me about the police investigation and the possibility of us being arrested. Upon telling him my mind and why it was necessary that he have a second thought, he told the police to investigate us while he traveled out of the Country. Upon his returned, couple with the gains of the CDC and pressure from Chairman Gudy Bryant, it was no surprise when we were formally charged.
Criminal Court C. under the gavel of Judge James Zota presided in open court with both National and International observers and media watching. Having gone through the process, and having rested evidence with an expected verdict the following day, the prosecution sensing her lost filed a “Motion of Information” with the Supreme Court under Justice Wreh. Although now dead, it was to my utmost dismay that Justice Wreh being a law professor at the University of Liberia upheld the motion calling for a new trial. It was travesty to the rule of law in Liberia.
Phase Five:
Liberia jurisprudence is similar to that of the US, so when justice was aborted calling for a new trial, we filed “Double Jeopardy” with Criminal Court C. under the gavel of Judge Blamo Dixon. He had decided to have a jury trial to avoid any suspicion of far play. He called the court to session and selected members of the jury in open court with the full view of UNMIL Soldiers and International observers. Having done the selection, the jurors were made to sleep at the “Temple of Justice” being fed and watched by the Government. Having conducted this lengthy trial, and having rested evidence exhaustively, in open court in close view of the public, a decision of “Not Guilty” was announced by the twelve jurors with no descending opinion. It was a unanimous verdict and a victory to sanity and human decency.
Phase Six:
Even in the O.J. Simpson trial, the Americans decided to swallow the pain and live with the verdict given by the jury. We thought that would have applied in our case, but the opposite. Jury members were arrested and sent to court for trial. At the end of the trial, a judge who didn’t hear the case ordered for a new trial with the arrest of the jury members. The defense lawyer appealed the case with the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Phase Seven:
In the wake of the confusion, a hearing was held to determine “Whether or not the Jury member received bribe and the decision tempered with”? Under the gavel of Judge Usefu Kaba, it was determined that the decision of the jury was a perfect one void of any deceit. They were released from further decision.
Phase Eight:
The Supreme Court realizing her role in serving as the final arbiter of a judicial dispute, felt the need, having listened to both the prosecution and the defense came out with a final position denying a retrial in the matter, once and the last time closing this negative chapter in our life. This manifest that indeed one can get justice under the Ellen Administration. We are glad that this black history is being put behind us. It is sad that I fought all this time to redeem my reputation for family, friends, political connections and posterity yet unborn.
Present Corruption Crusade:
Bryant Factor:
The applicability of the “Golden Rule” is very much important in helping us decipher whether or not the ongoing trials of alleged corrupt officials must continue unabated? The Golden Rule says, “do unto others as you may want them do unto you”. So why is he afraid to face scrutiny when others were scrutinized. The reality is, if he could send us for trial, let him realize that he is not above the law. This is one of the reasons why people ought to be careful about what they do. The court system is there to ascertain the fact and determine “whether or not one is culpable in the wake of an allegation”? Let him be real with his self and stop undermining the judicial process. There is need for equity when it comes to the dispensation of justice.
What Next for the Future?
We want to be grateful to God first and foremost for allowing truth to triumph over falsehood. Also we want to thank all of those who fought along with us during those dark days of our history. It was gloomy history in that we almost lost every thing. We give special gratitude to my parents, and siblings, especially, brother Kewulen Dolleh for his moral and intellectual supports amidst pain. We also would like to thank our leaders for the spiritual guidance during those troubling period. We harbor no bad feeling against any one including those brothers and who joined the enemies in concocting lies.
It is my only wish that those accused of corruption would be man enough to face the due process. Let the like of Charles G. Bryant and others face the judicial process so that the legacy they started building will out live them positively.
Thanks,
Varfley1@yahoo.com or (215)-666-2506—We want to hear your candid opinion.
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