NPA contractor becomes state witness

Prosecutors have nolleprosequi (abandoned further legal action against) Mr. Deneah Martin Flomo, who had jointly been indicted along with former National Port Authority or NPA Managing Director Madam Matilda W. Parker and Comptroller, Christina Kpabar-Paelay to serve as state witness.

Mr. Flomo and the two former NPA officials were indicted for alleged economic sabotage, theft of property and criminal conspiracy based on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s recommendation for claims that over US$800,000 contracts awarded co-defendant Flomo were never implemented and did not adhere to public procurement procedures.

At Tuesday’s hearing when the first state witness from the LACC Mr. D. KofaBlamo continued his days of cross examination with defense lawyers, prosecutors later requested the Criminal Court “C” through letter that they were entering nolleprosequi in favor of defendant Flomo.

The communication from Montserrado County Attorney Cllr. DarkuMulbah’s office, says prosecution has resolved to have Flomo serve as state witness in the trial. As representative for his alleged wreck removal firm Denmar Enterprise, Mr. Flomo was allegedly awarded over US$500,000 to remove wrecks from the Port of Greenville in Sinoe County, Southeast Liberia.

But the LACC’s Chief Investigator, witness Blamo said in cross examination on Tuesday, 5 January that “As we speak, the wrecks still remain at the Port of Greenville and USD500,000 gone.” The other contract, which was allegedly awarded defendant Flomo in the tune of over US$300,000, was intended for some security consultancy, but the LACC says none of these contracts were implemented.

Witness Blamo told the cross examination Tuesday that investigation established that attempts were made by other companies, including Buchanan Renewable Energy or BRE and G-4 to remove those wrecks, but they were partially successful.

“The port manager of Greenville, Mr. Daffa Whiles also confirmed that besides these two companies named, no other company, let alone DeneahFlomo, went there to remove wrecks,” witness Blamo testified.

He insists that defendant Flomo told investigation that he lacked the skills, expertise and capacity or capability to remove the wreck. Witness Blamo added that during investigation, the LACC interviewed the defendants and they identified an individual known asDeneah Martin Flomo as wreck engineer.

But he alleged that the defendants said they did not know the whereabouts and had no traces to defendant Flomo after they were allegedly given the opportunity to provide details of the address and location of their wreck removal firm and security consultant with whom they did business in the tune of over US$800,000.

However, he said the returned checks and the photos of the ID of the returned checks point to the very individual – Flomo, in response to defense’s question if the LACC call a meeting, which in criminal investigation is termed “confrontation with both the defendants and the Deneah Martin Flomo in person?”

The state witness insisted that based on the risk associated with bringing parties together, the investigation may decide to use a different approach, saying confrontation is traditional – and it is an old approach used to identify people.

Witness Blamo told the court and jury that the investigation interviewed 20 individuals and institutions believed to have knowledge of the allegation, and that they signed their statement forms to attest those statements were voluntarily provided. The case has been assigned for Thursday, January 7 at 10:30am.

By Winston W. Parley-Edited by Jonathan Browne