Prosecutors raise LBDI’s theft charge

Prosecutors have increased the amount of money allegedly stolen by defendant Margretta Dorbor of  the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment, or LBDI, to US$26,767 plus L$284,890 from her previous indictment of US$22,567 plus L$288,690.

Defendant Dorbor has already pleaded not guilty to the indictment, containing multiple charges of theft of property, forgery and counterfeiting – a felony of the second degree.

Having joined issued with the State by the “not guilty” plea, a number of documentary instruments were submitted to the court by state lawyers, including some of LBDI’s saving accounts, withdrawal slips and pass books, among others, in favor of several individuals.
 
After prosecutors augmented their indictment at the Criminal Court “C” Wednesday, February 18, 2015, both the State and defense counsels commenced selecting jurors to serve as judges of facts in defendant Dorbor’s trial that is being presided over by Judge Peter W. Gbeneweleh.

Prosecutors yesterday objected to several prospective jurors, including Nagbe D. Harris, because State lawyers said, Nagbe had told them during questioning that he knew defendant Dorbor.

Others were denied on various grounds, including juror Emmanuel Kammue of whom prosecutors said, there was no jury form to indicate his particulars, among others.

The bank alleged in the indictment that an auditor sent to its Gardnerville Branch at 8.00 a.m. on December 10, 2010 observed a huge quantity of cash in the amount of LD$23,715.00 under the desk of the defendant in a small cartoon, plastic bags and “Ghana Must Go Bag.”

The auditor identified as Jomah, was said to have additionally observed a huge consignment of counterfeits in cartoon and bags, totaling US$20,000.

The accused is alleged to have victimized more than a dozen of customers, whose accounts numbers have been documented in the indictment, including a community saving club named Gardnerville People Saving Club.

The Saving Club, which allegedly had L$70,000 balance in its account when on November 19 and 24, 2010 “it surrendered” to defendant Dorbor L$56,000 and L$21,000 respectively for deposit, expecting to have a total balance of L$147,000 in its account as recorded in the club’s saving book.

But the indictment said, “…it did not appear on the account of the Gardnerville People Saving Club in the system of LBDI.” The accused was alleged to have given a refund of US$1,000 and issued receipt, with a balance of L$77,000.

Meanwhile, the trial continues at Court “C,” Temple of Justice in Monrovia.

By Winston W. Parley