MONROVIA, Liberia, July 28, 2026 — The Ministry of Justice has appealed to businessman Upjit Singh Sachdeva, widely known as Jeety, to support rehabilitation programs aimed at equipping inmates with skills and helping them rebuild their lives after incarceration.
Assistant Justice Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation Gabriel F. Ndupellar made the appeal during Jeety’s annual Independence Day food distribution at the Monrovia Central Prison.
Speaking on behalf of Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Ndupellar said the government wants to move beyond merely keeping inmates in custody and place greater emphasis on rehabilitation, economic empowerment and reintegration.
He praised Jeety’s long-standing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities, noting that his support for inmates at the Monrovia and Kakata central prisons predates the current administration.
“Before the coming into being of this government, Mr. Jeety distinguished himself as a philanthropist, a humanitarian, a caregiver and someone who always wants to identify with the vulnerable population of our country,” Ndupellar said.
The assistant minister disclosed that the Justice Ministry has prepared a comprehensive inmate rehabilitation proposal and intends to hold further discussions with Jeety about private-sector support for correctional reform.
According to Ndupellar, many inmates possess valuable skills that could benefit businesses and society if they are given opportunities to develop and use them.
“We cannot build this country without looking back at the inmate population,” he said. “We have people with great potential who can contribute positively if we work together to develop those talents.”
Ndupellar noted that many inmates are pretrial detainees awaiting court proceedings, while others are held for minor offences or because they cannot afford restitution in theft-related cases.
He cited cases involving commercial motorcyclists who remain detained after motorcycles entrusted to them were allegedly stolen, leaving them unable to compensate the owners.
Ndupellar said the ministry has documented such cases as part of a broader report intended to mobilize support for rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
“Our goal is to create opportunities where inmates can use their skills, earn income for their families and return to society with a better future,” he said.
He thanked Jeety and his family for their continued support, saying their assistance helps ease the government’s burden in caring for inmates.
Earlier, a representative of Jeety said the Independence Day feeding program was intended to promote dignity and compassion for people regardless of their circumstances.
“True independence is reflected not only in our nation’s history, but also in how we care for one another,” the representative said.
He told the inmates that the outreach demonstrated that they remained valued members of society and had not been forgotten.
“Our presence here today is Jeety’s way of saying: You matter, you are valued and you are part of this nation’s journey,” he said.
The representative also commended prison authorities for maintaining order and caring for inmates despite difficult conditions and thanked the volunteers and partners who organized the event.
