Kpelleboy
Number of posts : 577
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Registration date : 2008-07-29
 | | Subject: LIBERIAN GO'VT REVIEWS "WILLIS KNUCKLES" EMAILS Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:23 pm | |
| | (Aug 25, 2008) By: Staff Reporter | The government of Liberia has expressed grave concern over recently unearthed email exchanges allegedly bearing the addresses of individuals purportedly discussing business deals involving government’s pending negotiations with the Liberian Maritime Registry (LISCR), a press release signed by Press Secretary Cyrus Badio has said.
More disturbingly and of grave magnitude, the release said, is the linkage the purported email exchanges attempt to draw between the Office of the President and the deals allegedly being discussed.
Given the gravity of the matter, Mr. Badio said the President has directed the Ministry of Justice to expeditiously conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, with the view of establishing the authenticity of the purported email exchanges.
“The mandate of the Ministry of Justice is to first ensure the authenticity of these emails and the second step will be to address the results of those findings,” he said in the release.
The President has also directed the Ministry of Justice to request the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, in consultation with the Liberia National Bar Association, to designate an Independent Special Prosecutor, to probe the legal implications of the allegations and make recommendations on the necessary actions to be taken by the Liberian Government.
The release, quoted the president reassuring Liberians and the country’s international partners that, whatever findings emerge from the investigations, will meet the full force of the law without fear or favor.
Mr. Badio said the matter has also been brought to the attention of the U.S. State Department, soliciting its support in getting to the bottom of the matter.
“While the President exercises every degree of caution in rushing to judgment pending a determination of the outcome of the investigation, she is, nevertheless, deeply concerned over the contents of the purported email exchanges and the adverse effects they may have on the government’s fight against corruption,” Mr. Badio said.
As a full investigation is being conducted to unearth the whole truth about this matter, the release said the Office of the President at no time gave license to any third party to serve as a negotiator or go-between and hereby points out that there is a clear line of demarcation between the Office of the President and the allegations in the purported email exchanges.
“The Executive Mansion is particularly and gravely concerned about references to Her Excellency [President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf] as well as to other high government officials in the purported email exchanges and will leave no stones unturned to ensure that the truth is unveiled and the perpetrators prosecuted in keeping with the laws of our country,” Mr. Badio said.
The release further said the President of the Republic is determined to ensure that every contract entered into between this government and any other entity will have only one objective, and that is, that such contracts serve the welfare and the benefit of the people of this nation.
“Since her incumbency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made it a duty to review every contract signed between the government of Liberia and other partners, be it national or international to ensure that the People of Liberia reap the benefit of their nation's natural resources,” Mr. Badio noted in the release.
Concluding Mr. Badioh stressed that the president remains committed to that principle, which cannot and will not be compromised, noting she also stands firm by her inaugural speech that corruption is enemy number one and will be fought on every front.
Quite recently, FrontPage Africa (FPA) produced a string of emails pointing to a shady deal involving Mr. Willis Knuckles, former Minister of State, and other major actors associated with the renewal of the Liberian Maritime Registry (LISR).
Mr. Knuckles has since denied being involved in any shadowy activities, claiming that his Yahoo email account was broken into.
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WWW.THELIBERIANJOURNAL.COM | |
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