Prosecutor Pleads with Senators to Suspend Secretary Singbeh

Months after the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) could not get the support from Senate Pro Tempore Albert Chie to have Senate Secretary Nanborlor Singbeh temporarily suspended from his position to go through a case in which he is involved, in court; the ministry has resolved to seek the interventions of other members of the Senate to resolve the matter.

According to the Assistant Minister for Litigation, Counselor Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, if the lawmakers refuse to relieve Singbeh, their decision would cast a dark cloud over the country’s criminal justice system.

The ministry relied upon an investigative report of the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) to indict Singbeh and other defendants including current and past public officials for allegedly duping two Czech investors, Martin and Pavel Miloschewsky of over US$5 million in both cash and equipment.

The cash and equipment were transferred to the country by the Miloschewsky brothers for the establishment of a Czech owned crush rock company to be named MHM Eko Liberia Limited, which the investors claimed that Singbeh and his co-defendants misapplied the fund and the equipment for which the brothers are demanding accountability.

The unanswered question remains whether at this time Senators, including Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County and his colleagues, would agree to endorse the ministry’s concern for the issue surrounding Singbeh to be placed on the agenda for deliberation.

The intervention of Dillon and other Senators stem from the fact that Rule No. 3 of the Senate under the caption, ‘Secretary,’ provides among other things that, “The secretary of the Senate is elected by the Senators."

Therefore, for any decision to be taken against the Senate Secretary as the Ministry of Justice is considering, it needs to be placed on the Senate agenda for discussion on the floor to obtain the approval of the majority members of the Senate.

Being so conscious about the time frame to have Singbeh suspended from his position, Cllr Wesseh said the trial has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 17 by the Criminal Court 'C' at the Temple of Justice.

In his letter dated August 9, 2021 to Pro Temp Chie, Wesseh said, “Anything short of Singbeh's relieve would dilute the essence of a free and impartial criminal trial, which is not to convict but to ensure that justice is properly served.”

Believing in the capability of the senators to make a decision very soon about the future of Singbeh, Wesseh’s letter said, “with abiding faith, I trust that Singbeh will be temporarily relieved of his post so as to allow him face criminal trial, being cognizant that criminal prosecution is not to convict but to ensure that justice is done."

If Singbeh were to be relieved of his position as Senate Secretary, it means he would be defending himself against multiple crimes that include economic sabotage, theft of property, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

Wesseh's communication informed the lawmakers that Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, and the Solicitor General of Liberia, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, have recused themselves from the Singbeh's case for initially representing some of the parties in the matter.