The Stipendiary Magistrate Judge of the Monrovia City Court, His Honor L. Ben Barco, has issued a memorandum to all security officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Executive Protection Service (EPS) and Armed Forces Liberia (AFL) to arrest the living bodies of Carman Lisa Woods, Christian Weah and Wasu Holding’s Manager and bring them before the court for immediate prosecution, in keeping with law.
The memorandum, issued Wednesday, January 31, 2024, disclosed that the defendants have absconded and placed themselves in hiding, and in the event they are arrested after official working hours, they should be detained at the nearest police station to be brought before the court the next working day to answer to the charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation, impersonating officials, forgery, counterfeiting, money laundering, obtaining and issuing deceptive writings, theft of property and bribery.
The writ of arrest is based upon the oath and complaint of the Republic of Liberia, by and through the Ministry of Justice, in which it substantially accused Wood, Weah and Wasu Holding’s Manager of conspiring and stealing the cash amount of US$4,040,687.53 (four million and forty thousand six hundred eight-seven United States dollars fifty-three cents) through the account titles of Chrisco Holding Inc. and Christian Weah.
The writ, accessed by the Hot Pepper, says the private prosecutor averred that, between April 2021 to January 12, 2024 and from July 11, 2018 to January 16, 2024, the defendants posed as representatives of the Government of Liberia (GOL) to sell crude oil, thus encouraging customers to purchase crude oil from them. “The defendants forged licenses and certificates in the name of the National Investment Commission for Oil Block-9, which was being used to carry out their criminal act as officials of government,” the writ of arrest observed.
The writ stated that the defendants again forged an independent agreement in the name of the Executive Mansion and used it to direct their criminal syndicate.
In addition, the defendants allegedly offered a US$100,000 bribe to the Liberia National Police (LNP) to conceal the information.
According to the writ, the defendants did this with the intent and purpose to cheat, defraud, bribe and dupe officials and the government of their reputation, an act being criminal, illegal and un-Constitutional.
Their action is contrary to the form, force and effect to the statutory laws of Liberia, and is in violation of Section 10.4, 10.3, 12.35, 15.51, 15.70 and 12.50 of the New Penal Law of Liberia.