More than six former Liberia National Tailors Union officials are in court for allegedly withdrawing US$20,894.00 from the Union’s account. Unauthorizedly.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, Liberia, December 6, 2024- Over six ex-officials of the Liberia National Tailors Union are currently facing multiple criminal charges at the Monrovia City Court for allegedly unlawfully and unauthorizedly withdrawing and squandering US$20,894.00 from the Union’s account.
Defendants Reed Stewart, Alberthan Smith, Augustine Sahr, Amadou D. Barry and Morris Kendolin, and others to be identified were arrested and taken to the Monrovia City based on a writ of arrest issued by the court against the defendants involving misapplication of entrusted property, theft of property, criminal conspiracy and impersonating official compliant brought against them by the Tailor Union and its Board of Directors.
The defendants after spending almost their entire day on prison bench, were released on a temporary bond with a mandate to appear before the court today, Friday.
According to the court record, the Union alleged and complaint upon oat that the defendants being in the employed of the institution, and occupied key positions, wherein during the month of September 25, 2024, co-defendants Reed Stewart, Alberthan Smith, signatories to the Union’s account purposely connived and conspired with others co-defendants unlawfully and unauthorisingly withdrew US$2,000.00 from the account.
The court document notes that the defendants, in the same vein, requested an additional US$2,194.00 under the pretense of reimbursing creditors and inaugural funds of US$2,700.00, including US$2,700.00 received by the defendants that were awarded the entity Board of Directors and tax collectors fees of US$14,000.00 received by the defendant.
“The said amount sums up to the total of US$20,894.00 that were unlawfully taken and entrusted to the defendants on behalf of the entity and converted to defendants’ personal use and benefit. Defendants further presented certificates of honor in Gbanga without the consent of the Board of Directors of the institution on the 15 day of November 2024, thereby exercising the authority of such public official and obtains things value”, the writ reads.
However, the court records said the alleged act of the defendants being unlawful, wicked and illegal, willful and intentional is in violation of Section 12.35, 10.4, 15.56 and 15.51 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberia. Editing by Jonathan Browne
