L$2.5m cable theft rocks Capitol

Some contractors hired to construct the Chinese Aid annexes to the Capitol Building are facing accusation of cutting the main Feed Cable valued L$2.5 million that was stationed in the powerhouse at the Capitol to supply electricity to the transformers of the main building and the two annexes.

The grounds of the Capitol Building in Monrovia became very tense Monday, 2 April when internal security officers at the Capitol Building discovered that some contractors had allegedly cut the cable which was to supply power from the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) to the Capitol.

Three contractors working with a Chinese company for the construction of the annexes reportedly entered the power house on Saturday, 31 March at about 9pm and reportedly cut the Feed Cable with the aim of dragging it out of the premises during late night hours.

The power house is under construction, and the Feed Cable is of great size which unfortunately for the three accused contractors they could not pull out of the area.

It was in the process of struggling with the giant – size cable that internal securities were said to have discovered the suspects. Two of the alleged thieves narrowly escaped the scene while one was arrested and turned over to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation.

Information gathered by this paper from the headquarters of the Liberia National Police indicates that a young man identified as ‘Friday Sayeah’ is in police custody in connection with the theft while his compliances identified as Adama and Alex are still at large.

Speaking to the NewDawn about the theft, the Chairman of the Modernization Committee of the Legislature, Sen. Conmany Wesseh said the theft has created serious setback to the completion date set by the Chinese company in consultation with the Liberian government.

The River Gee County Senator says the Feed Cable cannot be found here instead, the government import from China which could be stalled the completion of the project.

According to him, it is embarrassing and unfortunate for such thing to have concurred, noting that the construction of the two annexes is a grant from the Chinese government in the tune of US$12.5 million.

Senator Wesseh intimated that since the commencement of the two annexes, there have been series of thefts but his leadership had tried in the past to put things under control both the Liberians and Chinese working on the project.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Edited by Winston W. Parley