THE LACC IS in a new dispensation. The LACC Act of 2008, Part 2, Section 2, names signs/acts of corruption as bribery, embezzlement, extortion, fraud, influence peddling, insider trading, misuse of entrusted public property and vested authority, and any economic and financial crimes which are now provided for under the Penal Code of Liberia.
CLLR. EDWIN K. Martin, the newly inducted Executive Chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), has declared war on corruption and vowed to ensure that the LACC doubles its effort in building a robust fight against the menace. Executive Chairman Martin described corruption as a vampire and a cancer that has destroyed the society’s infrastructure and human capacity development.
“TODAY AS I take over, the war on corruption has begun!” Executive Chairman Martin assured the public. “I am asking all those previous and present public officials who have mismanaged, misapplied, misused and stolen public funds to voluntarily restitute same with immediate effect. This request also goes to private individuals and business houses who were also allegedly involved in stealing or misappropriating public funds.
“AS WE TAKE on this new mantle of authority, it is our responsibility to inform the general public that anyone in the past and the present that have invalidated the actual definition of corruption will not be exempted from prosecution. To effectuate this, I am hereby instructing the Division of Enforcement and Intelligence of the LACC to conduct immediate investigation into government’s ministries, agencies and commissions, private individuals and business houses that have willfully selected to squander public money for their selfish gains; if found culpable, such person or persons will be immediately arrested and charged in accordance with the law.”
THE LACC BOSS reassured the public that the war on corruption has been declared, as there will be no political witch-hunt or any kind of witch-hunt, but only those involved in corrupt practices will be dragged into the “prosecution net” by the LACC. “Let me emphasize that if you are invited for questioning as it relates to an act or acts of corruption, please report along with your legal counselor, as no excuse without legal justification will be granted.”