Concerned Liberians Network (CLN), a civil society organization based both in the United States of America and the Republic of Liberia, on June 5, 2023 staged a peaceful demonstration at the grounds of the Capitol Building, Ministry of Justice and headquarters of the Liberia National Police (LNP), calling on the Government of Liberia (GOL) to appoint a special independent council to investigate the US$100 million cocaine case in order to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. The protesters also demanded that the Liberia National Police (LNP) releases the investigative findings into the death of Charloe Musu and prosecute the culprits.
During the peaceful demonstration at the Capital Building, the group presented a special petition to the National legislature, which was received by Representative Johnson Gwaikolo of Nimba County.
In the statement, the group said it was exercising its Constitutional right under Article 17 of the 1986 Constitution, which provides for a peaceful assembly, and indicated that it was cognizant of the full exercise of such right and the responsibility appertaining thereto.
The petition, which was signed by Abraham G. Wheon and approved by Y. Michael Gilman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Concerned Liberians Network (CEO), called for the immediate investigation of George Abi Jaoudi, Bilal Abraham and his wife, the TRH business investments and the “special privileges” surrounding the importation of the US$100 million worth of cocaine into Liberia.
The group also called for TRH and its subsidiaries to be shut down and declared criminal enterprises for allegedly importing cocaine and other dangerous substances into Liberia to damage the young people of Liberia.
Investigation being conducted by the Hot Pepper suggests that TRH has a special privilege with the Government of Liberia (GOL), which no other business person or entity has, even though they only allegedly import frozen food on the Liberian market, which is not among the foods that the citizenry prioritize.
According to information, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Ministry of Commerce allegedly issued a “letter” to the TRH to give their containers the privilege not to undergo any form of search at the Freeport of Monrovia. This “letter”, according to information, is renewed every six months, and gives the company the right to import and release the goods without the regular search routine at the National Port Authority (NPA).
One is left to wonder how did TRH earn the right to import goods into the country without any authority searching it to ascertain the items being brought into the country, and who renews the letter for TRH at the LRA every six months and why.
It is being observed that, because of this privilege, TRH can import legal and illegal items or be used as a conduit to smuggle anything into the country without the acquiescence of the Liberian government.
The call by the protesters to investigate how TRH and its owners are given the privilege to import without search at the port has been seconded by several institutions that have questioned the intent of the LRA and the Commerce Ministry, wondering how much kickbacks these government entities receive to grant such privilege to a foreign company.
At the Capitol, the protesters also called on the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Justice, to unconditionally release the findings/reports of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in the Charloe Musu murder case, and that the ministry must issue an official press release indicating what have been the findings, recommendations, the final names of the persons of interest that are suspected of being involved in the case, among others.
The petition also called on the Ministry of Justice to make a public declaration clearing the names of Mayor Jefferson Koijee and Varlee Telleh, where applicable; declare Cllr. Jerome Verdier Sr. a person of interest in the Charloe Musu murder case and seek his extradition from the United States to answer in a court of competent Jurisdiction.
In the petition, the group also called for the convening of a special Joint Session of the National Legislature to take a vote of “no confidence” in Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean Jr. and to compel him to resign. The group further indicated that the Minister of Justice should be made to explain to the Liberian people what exactly were the conversations between him and the former Chief Justice, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, on the night of the gruesome murder of Charloe Musu.