MONROVIA – In the continuous fight by the Government of Liberia to clamp down on corruption in public offices and beyond, the chairman of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, says no suspect whether in Liberia or abroad will escape justice as the government intensifies its crackdown on corruption.
Speaking Monday, June 30, on ELBC, Cllr. Martin confirmed that the Taskforce is investigating 26 active cases involving alleged theft of public funds and is also reviewing 40 suspicious properties suspected to be acquired through illicit means.
The AREPT Chair warned that anyone indicted who attempts to flee the country will be tracked with help from international partners. “There is no way anybody can escape. We’re working with partners in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden and we’ll use Interpol where necessary,” he disclosed.
Cllr. Martin reiterated that the fight against corruption is not selective as being perceived by some Liberians and opposition figures. “We don’t investigate people; we investigate crimes. Once you’re linked, you’ll be invited, past or present,” he indicated.
The tough-talking AREPT Chairman then encouraged voluntary restitution, revealing that some individuals have approached the Taskforce quietly.
Meanwhile, indictments in the Saudi rice scandal involving high-profile former officials remain before the court.
Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin disclosed that the Taskforce is set to launch a public campaign to raise awareness and gather tips on stolen state assets.
Recently, AREPT in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice indicted former officials of government over an alleged corruption scandal involving rice donated by Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, in 2023. The donation included 29,412 bags of rice intended for disaster victims across Liberia. Valued at over US$425,918, the rice was meant to support vulnerable communities affected by floods, fire outbreaks, and other natural disasters.
According to the indictment filed at Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, 25,054 of those bags were allegedly diverted by former officials for unauthorized purposes. The indictment claims that instead of being distributed to intended beneficiaries, the rice was unlawfully repurposed, with no records of end-user receipts or audit trails. The court documents accuse the officials of colluding and scheming to interfere with the lawful distribution of the rice, depriving needy citizens and the state of the aid’s intended use.
Named in the sweeping indictment are several prominent figures from the former government, including former Minister of Internal Affairs Varney Sirleaf, former General Services Agency Director-General Mary T. Broh, former Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Henry O. Williams, former Deputy Foreign Minister for Administration Thelma Duncan Sawyer, and multiple senior officials from the NDMA and the GSA.
The prosecution alleges that between February 21 and April 2025, the indicted individuals were summoned by the Assets Recovery Task Force and subjected to interrogation. They were reportedly informed of their constitutional rights, represented by legal counsel throughout the process, and formally charged with a range of offenses including theft of property, economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, misapplication of entrusted property, and misuse of public money and records.
A writ of arrest issued by Criminal Court “C” on June 25, 2025, and signed by Clerk of Court Knowles W. Shain, authorized law enforcement officers to apprehend the defendants and bring them before the court for trial. The document instructed that an official return be made on the execution of the writ.
The indictment further alleges that the accused officials, while in public service, failed to maintain legal documentation explaining their handling of the donated rice and, in some cases, directly facilitated its transfer to unknown individuals and locations.
The alleged misappropriation, the government argues, reflects a gross abuse of office and is a breach of public trust. The case has been brought under various provisions of Liberia’s penal code relating to corruption, including sections covering theft, sabotage, and misuse of government property. However, reacting to the allegations, Kemayah insisted on his innocence and questioned the credibility and fairness of the process. “There is no fear when you know your hands are clean,” he said. “All we ask for is an impartial and professional judicial process. We will go through it and come out vindicated.”
