MONROVIA – Cllr. Pato Jarba, County Attorney, Bomi County is accused of supporting the escape of a prime defendant, Fatu Kanneh in connection to the sale and scrapping of equipment and machineries valued at over US$2 million without proper authorization.
Fatu, who is at large together with the administrative officer of Bomi County, Alphonso M. Sherman and Abraham Barry, was charged with multiple criminal offences, to include burglary, Theft of Property, Criminal Conspiracy, criminal attempt to commit theft, criminal facilitation, criminal solicitation and criminal mischief.
The machines and equipment were placed in possession of Mr. Hans Armstrong, a British investor, based on a ruling of Judge Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court ‘C’ of Montserrado County, following a lengthy trial between Mr. Armstrong and the citizens of the Sackie township, Bomi County.
In an phone interview with a team of journalists, regarding the incident, the Regional CID commander of both Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties, claims that Cllr. Jarba was instrumental in the escape of defendant Fatu Kanneh.
Alex Diggs further alleged that during a recent meeting at the Ministry of Justice, where he, Cllr. Jarba, Superintendent Miatta E. Dorley defendant Sherman along with Mr. Armstrong was invited to discuss about a complaint of constant harassment filed by Superintendent Dorley against Mr. Armstrong.
Unfortunately, according to Diggs, Mr. Armstrong did not show up for the meeting on the basis that he had compliant the matter to the offices of President Joseph Boakai.
Surprisingly, Diggs said, the meeting was canceled due to the absence of Mr. Armstrong. But, when we got outside of the meeting, he saw suspect Fatu standing with Superintendent Dorley.
“I quickly informed Cllr. Jarba that the prime suspect we have been looking for is there standing and holding a discussion with Superintendent Dorley,” Diggs claimed.
Diggs added that Cllr. Jarba instructed him to call Fatu, which he did.
“When Fatu walked to us, I reminded Cllr. Jarba that I wanted to arrest Fatu, but he refused to allow me to arrest her. Instead, the county attorney asked Fatu to report to his office the next day,” Diggs allege.
“The County Attorney is my boss man and whatsoever he tells me to do, I am under direct instruction to do so,” Diggs said responding to a question from a team of journalists. “This was the best time to arrest Fatu, but my boss man made us to miss the opportunity. Currently, I don’t know the whereabouts of Fatu.”
When Cllr. Jarba was contacted he described the allegations as ” baseless and rubbish.”
“I can’t respond to your questions, if you want the answers to your question you can go to my bosses, the Justice Minister and the Solicitor General,” Cllr. Jarba maintained.
According to the court’s document, defendant Sherman along with co-defendants Fatu Kamara and Abraham Barry, both of whom are at large, was investigated and charged based upon a complaint filed against them by Hans Armstrong through his lawyer, Attorney Mbivulo Blama of the Liberia Law Group.
The court’s document alleges that the defendants criminally and willfully did in their individual conducts whereas on May 16, 2025, defendant Sherman with total disregard to the laws of Liberia and respect for property rights put out publications addressed to the Universal Scrap Dealers Company.
According to the complaints, October 13, the law firm intimated that their client earth moving machines or equipment packed in Sackie Town, Senjeh District Bomi County was scrapped and sold by Sherman, as indicated in a notice of sale dated May 16, 2025.
In said notice of sale signed by Sherman, it was clearly indicated therein that the defendant solicits the interest of potential Scrap buyers, specifically Universal Scrap Dealers, to purchase as scrap the machines or equipment of their client, despite being aware of a lengthy legal matter surrounding the same machines or equipment ensured between Horizon and one Reginald Holder and Jehu Richards a legal battle that was initiated in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Bomi County and was later transferred to Criminal Court ‘C’ in Montserrado County, wherein a ruling was handed down in favor of Horizon to repossess the items.
Accordingly, based upon the notices published by Sherman resulted to co-defendants Fatu Kamara and Abraham Barry, both to be identified going to Sackie Town, Senjeh District Bomi County, where they used oxygen cutting touch to cut its client machines or equipment to small pieces as well as them thereby causing substantial damages to all of the machines or equipment
These incidents highlight the need for transparency and accountability in Liberia’s justice system.
