The elite Liberian presidential guard unit, Executive Protection Agency (EPS), is said to have been hit with massive corruption which, if not handled swiftly and amicably, could put the life of the Chief Executive, H.E. George Manneh Weah, under threat and bring the country into national security threat.
Like the case of the Armed Forces of Liberia’s Pension Fund, which was mismanaged by officials of the Ministry of National Defense, the authorities of the EPS have been managing the Executive Protection Service Development Fund, which is generated through agents’ salary deduction and managed an EPS Development Fund Committee, headed by its Chairman, James Helbs, who is appointed by the EPS Director, Trokon Roberts.
In addition to salary deduction, the account is also credited through deductions made to salaries of EPS agents, who go on absence without leave (AWOL), a source confided in the Hot Pepper.
According to information, about two weeks ago, the rumor about the embezzlement began to spread among EPS officers, but with Director Roberts allegedly exerting every effort to suppress the news from coming out. However, disenchanted agents, who feel that they cannot be working every day and night while a handful of individuals “eat” the fruit of their sweat, have raised the alarm.
Some aggrieved agents have accused a number of top brass of the EPS (ranks withheld) of crediting from the fund, and because they did not want to pay they allegedly advised the Chairman of the fund’s committee, James Helbs, to immediately leave the country. However, before leaving the country for Ghana, Chairman Helbs, too, allegedly withdrew US$300,000 from the account.
The agents also alleged that the money deducted from AWOL’s salaries are not usually placed into the account; instead, distributed between U-50, 53 and 53D, who are the sole distributors.
But Chairman Helbs, who is reportedly on a medical leave to Ghana, has distanced himself from the embezzlement and allegedly accused the EPS administrators of squandering the funds.
Classified information revealed to the Hot Pepper suggests that the aggrieved EPS agents are now blaming the EPS boss for his poor management, lack of expertise and not having oversight and control of an irresponsible agent who heads the fund’s committee, with alleged tainted character. They say agent James Helbs is on record for being involved in a payroll scandal, which was the major reason he was removed from the Finance Department of the EPS.
They contended that, if President Weah cannot make swift changes in the leadership of the EPS, they forecast an embarrassment within the nation’s most elite presidential unit, and they will not sit idly and watch corrupt individuals “eat” their hard-earned resources without consequence. They expressed frustration and dissatisfaction with the way things are going under Trokon Robert’s leadership, emphasizing that they cannot be working while a handful of men “eat” their money.
Security experts have described the situation as a national security threat—one that could draw the country in chaos—especially in the eventuality that anything happens to the life of the President as a result of negligence or delinquency on the part of EPS officers due to dissatisfaction. They warned that the situation be properly investigated and swiftly handled. Investigation continues.