Criminal Court ‘C’ at the Temple of Justice has handed down a landmark guilty verdict against nine suspended employees of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) in connection to a high-profile petroleum theft case that resulted in the illegal siphoning of over 193,000 gallons of fuel.
Presiding Judge A. Blamo Dixon found the defendants guilty of theft of property and criminal conspiracy, bringing closure to what has been described as one of the largest documented fuel theft scandals in Liberia’s recent history.
The convicted employees—all members of LPRC’s Security Department—include Andrew P. Nimely, Kingston S. Sneh, Emmanuel G. Garway, Robert S. Alfred, Alphanso Sackie, Beyan A. Cooper, John Kolubah, Peter Z. Tayn, and William V. Gray.
According to court documents, between September 1, 2023, and January 2024, the nine men conspired to siphon petroleum products—including gas oil, gasoline, and jet A-1 fuel—from the company’s jetty pipeline. The stolen quantity amounted to a staggering 193,659 gallons, critically affecting supplies to LPRC’s Petroleum Storage Terminal (PST) and key clients including Srimex-China Union and Connex.
In his ruling, Judge Dixon ordered the convicts to repay a total of US$941,895.11—the estimated market value of the stolen products—and to each pay a $300 fine into the Government of Liberia’s consolidated revenue account.
The court also mandated the Ministry of Justice to conduct a pre-sentencing investigation to determine the individual criminal histories of the convicts—specifically to establish whether they are first-time offenders or repeat violators.
“This case reflects a gross betrayal of trust by individuals placed in positions of responsibility,” Judge Dixon said. “The scale of theft and the organized nature of this act demands the strongest deterrent through judicial accountability.”
It can be recalled that on February 21, 2024, LPRC publicly disclosed that internal investigations had implicated several employees in the illegal extraction and sale of petroleum products from its jetty pipelines. The accused were immediately suspended, pending the outcome of a Justice Ministry probe.
LPRC said the suspects not only stole fuel but also damaged company infrastructure, further exacerbating operational losses. The company cited multiple provisions of the Decent Work Act and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to justify its disciplinary actions.
In a strongly worded statement following the court’s verdict, LPRC reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on theft and misuse of company or public resources.
“LPRC assets are public assets,” the management stated. “All employees, particularly those entrusted with sensitive operational access, must act as stewards—not saboteurs—of national interest.”
