Liberia: Cummings Vows To Protect His Reputation
Cummings: "The findings of the report are conclusive. With the baselessness of the accusations against me now laid bare, the truth."
The political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Cummings, has reaffirmed his commitment to the court trial, but said he will endeavor to protect and defend his hard-earned reputation against character assassination and injury.
According to an ANC statement, Cummings, along with two senior ANC officials are being subjected to trial on charges of a misdemeanor, for alleged alterations of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) framework document.
But the ANC political leader, while appearing on SKY FM on May 9, maintained his innocence and described the charges of forgery and criminal conspiracy, as bogus and politically orchestrated by the All Liberian Party of Benoni Urey in cahoots with President George Weah to thwart his Presidential bid in 2023.
The Liberian politician said in a statement that the protracted delay of his misdemeanor trial, which is typically 30 days, has been characterized by the unfair and unreasonable legal complications by state prosecutors, including the subpoenaing of a long list of 34 State witnesses.
This prosecutorial misconduct of the Solicitor-General and the lack of evidence in the case increased suspicions and prompted the ANC leader to hire a London based internationally reputable law firm to conduct an independent forensic investigation into the alleged alteration of the CPP Framework Document.
The law firm, managed by Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has assured of an objective and impartial forensic investigation irrespective of the hiring authority.
Forensic investigations of fraud or forgery allegations are normally done through a review of documents and for the trial to have covered nearly five months, and disagreement between the Solicitor General Cephus and Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean has baffled ANC supporters.
Cummings noted that the forensic investigation, which he has pledged commitment to its outcome, will help the Liberian Judiciary in establishing the truth, clear his reputation, and relieve him of the mental agony, subjected to, and the many inquiries and doubts by Liberians and his international partners and friends.