JFK fraud syndicate chief jailed

The brain behind the fraud syndicate that has deprived the State-run John F. Kennedy Medical Center of over L$16m and US$126,000 plus Mr. Patrick Konuwa, has been arrested and jailed at the Monrovia Central Prison, joining seven of his conspirators, who were taken to prison earlier onSaturday, 2 April.

A five-count indictment displays the former JFK Accounts Officer Mr. Konuwa as conspiring with privately-run First International Bank Liberia or FIB’s Customer Service Officer Lethia W. Waleh and Clearing Officer James Ricks in opening clandestine USD and LD accounts outside the required processes and diverted millions of Liberian Dollars and thousands of U.S. Dollar paid by insurance companies to the hospital to those accounts.

They allegedly succeeded in diverting into their bogus “John Freeman Kennedy” USD and LD accounts opened at FIB, several insurance companies checks issued as payment to the JFK hospital, deposited L$15,774,742 and US$5,000 and subsequently withdrawing them with the issuance of several checks.

After being cuffed in the courtroom Monday, Konuwa covered his face as journalists posted outside with cameras while he was being escorted to the Monrovia Central Prison or South Beach by officers at Criminal Court “C”, Temple of Justice on Monday, 4 April.

Patrick is alleged to have widened the fraud scheme, conspiring with Central Bank of Liberia or CBL’s IT department Hardware Technician Mr. Prince Jallah to print fake CBL statements for the hospital’s accounts … to shield the fraud from authorities at JFK hospital.

There are more than 15 names in the indictment, eight of whom are already in jail, including lead fraud organizer Konuwa, and Rebeah Arnaus, James Ricks, Fahn F. Borbor, Thomas G. Telewoyan, Jerry D. Morlu, Benjamin Wlay Dargbe, Jr. and Thomas Oliver Mezzeh.

They have been indicted for economic sabotage, theft of property, money laundering, criminal conspiracy and criminal facilitation. Those still at large include Boakai J. Varney, Lethia W. Waleh, Prince Jallah and his wife Grace Dolly Jallah, John Fred Kennedy, Ballah Holmes and JohnFreeman Kennedy.

With the assistance of James Ricks, Konuwa deposited into the purported “John F. Kennedy” accounts at FIB two checks on October 2, 2015 and November 26, 2015,respectively after receiving two CBL’s checks from the Ministry of Finance in the tune of L$6,989,266.80 and L$8,066,889.60.

Konuwa is said to have clandestinely diverted two other checks into the purported “John F. Kennedy” accounts on October 16, 2015 and December 22, 2015 with the assistance of FIB’s Waleh and Ricks in the amount of L$751,760 from Secure Risk and US$5,000 from MedicareInsurance without informing the JFK Hospital, which they were intended for.

First International Bank staff Ricks is said to have also facilitated another deposit into the fictitious John F. Kennedy account on December 23, 2015 when Konuwa walked at FIB this time with a Secure Risk check containing L$751,760.00 instead of the hospital’s account.

After diverting the hospital’s L$15,807,916.40 and US$5,000 into their personal accounts, Konuwa and his conspirators began issuing checks while FIB’s James Ricks facilitated the encashment and withdrawal of L$15,774,000 and US$4,900 from the two accounts.

In the withdrawal process, checks issued in the name of the John F. Kennedy Hospital totaled $8,109,000; Ballah Holmes’ checks totaled 400,000; US$4,900 to Jerry D. Morlu and L$65,000 to others yet to be identified.

Jerry Morlu who worked at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication, allegedly used his employee ID to encash the US$4,900; while Lincoln College student Ballah Holmes used his student ID to encash the L$400,000.

Between April and August 2015, Konuwa conspired with CBL’s Prince Jallah and his wife Grace Dolly Jallah – then Executive Secretary to JFK’s CEO; Women Voices Newspaper’s production manager Fahn Borbor, Henry K. Sambolah, Thomas Oliver Mezzeh; Benjamin Wlay Dargbe, Jr. and defrauded JFK Hospital of another US$81,576.51.

In executing this other operation, Konuwa and his conspirators allegedly forged the signatures of Dr. Wvannie Scott-Macdonald and Ms. Munah Tarpeh – JFK Hospital’s General Administrator, CEO and Deputy for Administration,respectively and prepared a fraudulentcheck book request order dated May 27, 2015.

CBL’s Prince Jallah and his wife Grace Dolly Jallah were said to have facilitated the recruitment into the syndicate of more conspirators like Thomas Mezzeh and Benjamin Dargbe, asking that the stolen hospital’s checks be issued in their names for encashment, claiming tohave performed services for the hospital.

For his part, Boakai J. Varney, then JFK Senior Budget and Accounts Officer allegedly refused to carry on his assigned duty and allowed these fraudulent transactions. 

Thomas Teleweon allegedly filled forms in the name of John F. Kennedy to conceal and retain money belonging to JFK to convert into his personal use and benefit.

By Winston W. Parley-Editing by Jonathan Browne