By Lincoln G. Peters
The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) Bong County chairperson Captain Jerry Kollie has denied charges of theft of property and misappropriation of entrusted property, saying he has never diverted his party’s belongings for his personal use.
Captain Kollie told this paper in an interview Saturday, 13 May 2023 that the lawsuit filed against him by the PLP justifies that the party is a novice to politics.
Kollie used the interview to respond to a writ of arrest issued against him by the Monrovia City Court.
“My brother, I don’t know what they are talking about. I have never taken the party’s property because I have cars. This decision by the party executives is personal,” Kollie alleged.
“But, what I am excited for is that this decision shows how they are [a] complete novice to politics,” Mr. Kollie noted.
On Thursday, Captain Jerry Kollie and other county chairpersons of the PLP were arrested and detained by the Monrovia City Court after being issued a writ of arrest.
The court’s decision followed a complaint filed by the People’s Liberation Party by and through its Vice Chairman Benedict P. Ahtee and Kalifala Kromah against captain Jerry Kollie, Oscar Holmes, Evelyn Yarkollie, Morris J. Emmanuel Greene, Abraham Sirleaf, and Mohammed Bility.
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The PLP chairpersons were charged with the crime misapplication of entrusted
property, and theft of property. Based on the charges, a writ of arrest was issued for the defendants.
However, the men were released based on a criminal appearance bond filed by their lawyer to secure their release.
According to the court, the alleged crimes violate Sections 15.56 and 15.51 of the New Penal Law of Liberia.
In its complaint, the PLP said the defendants were entrusted with motorbikes, vehicles, ID Card Machines, and Generators totaling US$37,000.00.
It said the accused allegedly received the items in November 2022 for and on behalf of the political party.
But to the surprise and dismay of the party, the complaint alleged that the accused converted the items into their personal use and benefit, thus depriving the party of its hard-earned property.
But Captain Kollie said he thought the decision of the party to take them to court is not the right thing.
