-As One of Accused, Sanor, Rejects Charges
MONROVIA, Liberia — The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has taken a decisive step in a high-profile corruption case involving the Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE), following the issuance of a Writ of Arrest against seven senior officials accused of wide-ranging financial misconduct.
The writ, issued by the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Court C, was signed on December 30, 2025, by Ousman F. Feika. It instructs the Sheriff of Montserrado County to arrest and present the defendants before the court.
Those named in the writ are former BSE Director General Arthur Massaquoi; Comptroller Matthew F. Kotio; Kathinal Mitchell; Varlee F. Sanor; Isaac C. Kporkulah; Jessephen Yah Dahn; and Mohammed V. Fofana.
Charges and Allegations
According to the indictment, the accused face multiple counts, including Economic Sabotage, Fraud against the Internal Revenue of Liberia, Theft or Illegal Disbursement of Public Funds, Misuse of Public Property or Records, Criminal Conspiracy, and Criminal Facilitation.
LACC prosecutors allege that Massaquoi and Kotio authorized payments exceeding US$71,000 and LD 3.8 million to staff and contractors without verifiable justification or evidence of services rendered. Investigators further claim that funds earmarked for vendors were instead diverted to staff and other individuals, amounting to an additional US$168,961 and LD 8.4 million.
The indictment also highlights alleged procurement irregularities, including the pre-selection of Benefit Trading International to supply stationery and cleaning materials before completion of the formal bid evaluation process. Invoices for goods and services were reportedly issued under questionable circumstances, raising red flags for investigators.
The LACC says the case stems from a Grand Jury investigation into the alleged misuse and mismanagement of public funds at the BSE, an institution tasked with overseeing state-owned enterprises.
Sanor Pushes Back
One of the accused, Varlee F. Sanor, who is currently in the United States, has publicly rejected the allegations. In a strongly worded statement posted on his Facebook page, Sanor accused the LACC and its legal team of acting with bias and political vendetta.
Sanor insisted that a close review of the indictment reveals no specific criminal acts attributable to him. He called on the LACC to “clearly delineate” the allegations against him from those leveled against other defendants, arguing that lumping all accused together creates a misleading public narrative.
He further claimed that he was, in fact, the whistleblower who alerted the LACC in July 2024 to what he described as “massive corruption” at the BSE. According to Sanor, his efforts to expose wrongdoing earned him enemies, some of whom he alleges are now attempting to retaliate by orchestrating false charges through “surrogate friends” within the anti-graft body.
Sanor characterized the case against him as a “witch hunt” motivated by vengeance and personal animosity, and suggested that there is an effort underway to pressure Joseph Nyuma Boakai to suspend him while the investigation proceeds. He expressed confidence, however, that President Boakai would reject what he termed a “macabre scheme.”
What Comes Next
The court has ordered the Sheriff of Montserrado County to execute the writ and make formal returns on the service of arrest. Failure by any of the defendants to comply could result in further legal consequences.
As the case moves forward, it is expected to test the government’s renewed commitment to accountability and transparency in public institutions. For the LACC, the proceedings represent one of its most consequential enforcement actions in recent years; for the accused, the coming weeks will determine whether the allegations withstand judicial scrutiny.
The court is yet to set a date for the defendants’ initial appearance, while the LACC maintains that its actions are driven solely by evidence and due process, not politics.
