Former Executive Governor of the Central of Bank of Liberia Milton Weeks, currently being interrogated for the alleged disappearance of 15 Billion Liberian dollars printed abroad and brought in the country admits to the joint security investigative team that the containers bearing the LRD15 billion were received by the CBL during his tenure.
Making the pronouncement recently before the joint security team, including the National Security Agency, the Intelligent Financial Unit and the Liberia National Police, Weeks explains the containers and bags of moneys were received during his stay at the Central Bank of Liberia and deposited both in vaults at the CBL and the former national housing and savings bank, respectively.
When quizzed further, he discloses that some of the newly printed banknotes were infused in the Liberian market to replace mutilated banknotes notes.Mr. Weeks is yet to explain clearly whether the total amount was infused in the market.
The CBL is the institution clothed with the authority to print currency in the country in consultation with the Liberian Legislature the former Liberian government approved the printing of new banknotes in August 2016, as the country recovered from a devastating Ebola epidemic.
Charles Sirleaf, son of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and former Central Bank governor, Milton Weeks, are among those barred from travel as part of the investigation, said a Ministry of Information statement released late on Tuesday.Charles Sirleaf was suspended from his position as Deputy Central Bank Governor in 2012 during an anti-corruption investigation.
Meanwhile the Liberian government is inviting investigators of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other reputable international bodies to assist in its ongoing probe.
An official in the corridors of the Executive Mansion told this paper via mobile phone Wednesday that letters were being sent to the FBI, IMF and other international bodies to assist the government in solving what is fast becoming one of the biggest financial crimes in the nation’s history.
The government circular says the investigation team has asked for the continued cooperation of Milton Weeks, George Abi Jaoudi, Charles Sirleaf, Richard Walker, Mariea E. G. Toe, Musulyn R. B. Jackson and Opheila Nyenpan. Others are Oldada Deshield, Prince Bull, J. Barquolleh Gabriel, Theodosia B. Jreh, Zinnah Davison, Solomon Jaykpah, Kollie Ballah, and Andrew Pabai, among others.
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By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Jonathan Browne
