GRAND GEDEH – Grand Gedeh County District #3 Representative, Mr. Jacob C. Debee, has been accused of obstructing justice by attempting to prevent the surrender of one Morris Konneh, a suspected criminal, who is wanted by the Ganta Magisterial Court in Nimba County.
Konneh is facing charges for allegedly defrauding a cocoa procurement operation of over 10 million CFA (approximately US$16,666 at an exchange rate of 600 CFA to US$1).
Court documents revealed that on December 19, 2024, Konneh received 44 million CFA (approximately US$73,333) for the purchase of cocoa.
However, he only delivered cocoa worth 34 million CFA (about US$56,666), leaving an outstanding balance of 10 million CFA.
Due to Konneh’s continued failure to deliver the remaining cocoa or refund the balance, he was arrested and charged with deception and misapplication of entrusted property.
Surprisingly, Konneh was later released during the judicial process after Rep. Debee and Mr. Junior Zlah T, District Administrative Officer of Gbao, signed a guarantee note committing to produce either the cocoa or the money by February 20, 2025.
The written commitment signed by both men reads:
“We the undersigned in persons of Hon. Jacob C. Debee II, Representative of Grand Gedeh County District #3, and Junior Zlah T, District Administrative Officer of Gbao, do hereby guarantee Defendant Morris Konneh, charged with misapplication of entrusted property, and to bring him before court on the 20th day of February A.D. 2025, at 10 o’clock A.M. CFA 3,600,000 (Ivorian money) is left and filed as part of this guaranteed process.”
Despite several court summonses, neither Rep. Debee nor Mr. Zlah has surrendered Konneh to the court.
In his defense, Rep. Debee stated:
“I signed the guarantee note, and we provided the cocoa, but the company refused to accept it because they said it was rotten. So I was forced to step away from the case. I don’t have any time for that.”
Mr. Zlah acknowledged his role and added:
“I signed the document and am making every effort to resolve the issue. I am committed to delivering on it. We were successful to have purchased one ton of cocoa, but it was rejected. I am now in Monrovia trying to negotiate its sale. We owed cocoa, not money.”
When contacted, Mr. John Benedict Totaye, a representative of a European conglomerate corporation involved in cocoa procurement in Liberia, expressed disappointment over Rep. Debee’s interference in the judicial process.
“Initially, I resisted the lawmaker’s involvement, but Magistrate Owen Freeman denied my request,” said Mr. Totaye, who clarified that he is not related in any way to District Administrative Officer Junior Z. Totaye, despite sharing the same surname.
Mr. Totaye further explained that multiple attempts had been made to execute court assignments and arrest Konneh, including covering costs for transport and operations, but enforcement was repeatedly obstructed.
“Each time we paid for an assignment and traveled to Grand Gedeh County, we couldn’t locate Konneh. It’s frustrating. Nothing is being done, even though we followed the legal process,” he noted.
He added that Magistrate Freeman claimed he lacked the authority to arrest the guarantors due to Rep. Debee’s legislative immunity but assured that contempt charges would be filed against Mr. Junior Totaye. However, to date, no such actions have been taken.
When contacted, Magistrate Freeman confirmed concern over Rep. Debee’s handling of the matter, stating:
“The February 20 deadline has passed, and they refused to return the balance cocoa or the money. Given the lawmaker’s involvement, I will refer the matter to the Circuit Judge for further advice.”
As of the time of publication, there has been no resolution or further development in the case.
