In the wake of alleged squandering of over US$300,000 by the administration of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), headed by Trokon Nathaniel Roberts, the Hot Pepper has, again, unearthed another damning corruption scandal at the elite service, as the director of the agency stands accused of slicing the salaries of one hundred (100) agents for approximately one year now.
In-depth investigation being conducted by the Hot Pepper into the mass corruption that has engulfed the EPS reveals that, during fiscal year 2021, the agency spotted, vetted, recruited and trained additional one hundred (100) agents, with the objective of improving security delivery nationwide, improving security services delivery in leeward regions, professionalizing the security sector and improving oversight and disciplinary mechanisms in 2022.
According to classified information accessed by the paper, after the passage of the 2022 national budget the 100 additional agents were immediately placed on the agency’s payroll; however, it is being alleged that they have not been receiving their full salaries.
The agents were to be paid US$500 (five hundred United States dollars), with 80% (US$400) in US dollars and 20% (L$15,000) in Liberian dollars. Unfortunately, the Hot Pepper has been hinted that these agents are being paid US$105 (one hundred and five United States dollars) and L$5,000 (five thousand Liberian dollars) as their total monthly salaries for the past ten months, with the hierarchy of the agency allegedly dividing the rest of the amount among themselves.
Those accused of being involved in slicing the agents’ salaries are Trokon Nathaniel Roberts, Director; Phillips Nmah, Comptroller; Matthews Coker, Chief of Administration; Casely Roberts, Deputy Chief of Administration; and Osices Williams, Special Assistant to Unit-50.
According to information, these 100 agents were employed as of January 1, 2022, and their salaries have since been deducted. Mathematically, US$295 and L$10,000 are deducted from each agent’s salary every month. Multiplying these amounts by 100 agents would sum up to US$29,500 and L$1 million monthly; and multiplying these amount by the ten months these agents have been employed would sum up to a total of US$US$295,000 and L$10 million.
Why the EPS administration is slicing such a huge amount from the agents’ salaries is the jigsaw puzzle the public is left to solve.
For fiscal year 2022, the EPS has a budget of US$10,315,116 (ten million three hundred fifteen thousand one hundred sixteen United States dollars), and with such a budget it is expected that the agency would be self-sufficient to properly execute its duties.
This scandal comes to light a week after the Hot Pepper broke the silence on the mismanagement of the EPS Development Fund, presided over by James Helbs, son of former EPS Director, Victor Helb. The Chairman of the funds, Helb, has since promised to return from exile to clear his name from the financial scandal.
Latest information into the matter is that a writ of arrest has been released for Agent James Helb and, most importantly, President George M. Weah left a stern instruction with the EPS administration that the money be replenished into the EPS Development Fund before he returns from his international engagement.
According to information, President Weah has told the Trokon Roberts administration that he does not care about their in-house claims about who ate the money; what is of importance to him is that the money be replaced before he returns, or they should be prepared for the consequences. Investigation continues.