Authorities of the Executive Protection Service (EPS) have provided detailed information to the Hot Pepper as it relates to the financial impropriety with the EPS Development Account, with the clarification that, even though there is an on-going investigation into the matter, the EPS administration had absolutely no dealings with the account, as the initiative was brought about by the EPS agents themselves who elected a number of their colleagues to spearhead the transactions of the account.
In October 2022, the Hot Pepper unearthed a financial syndicate with the EPS Development Fund and also reported the underpayment of approximately 100 EPS agents.
According to the information accessed by the Hot Pepper at the time, approximately US$300,000 was withdrawn from the account without the knowledge and consent of those contributing to the account, and that the head of the development fund had fled the country, too, with a huge sum of money, in revenge for being used to withdraw money from the account by the EPS leaders but without benefitting.
However, in an open interview with administrators of the EPS, including the comptroller, head of personnel, head of communication, special assistants to the director and deputy director, the secretary of the EPS Development Funds and others, the Hot Pepper was told that the EPS Development Account was a separate financial body established and solely operated by agents of the EPS and not the hierarchy of the entity.
The Hot Pepper was informed that the initiative started during the administration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf when it was referred to as Mutual Aid and only renamed EPS Development Fund during the George Weah administration.
According to the explanation, an EPS personnel felt uncomfortable with the way the account was being handled by those they elected to head it, and so he took their complaint to the EPS Director, Trokon Roberts, who immediately called for a meeting between the EPS administration and the heads of the account and decided to conduct an audit into the activities of the account.
According to the EPS administration, the audit disclosed major financial discrepancies with the account, and so Director Robert ordered an immediate halt to all withdrawals from the account until the matter could be resolved.
Osel Williams, the Chief of Staff (COS) of the EPS Director, informed the Hot Pepper that the account is solely funded by EPS agents who agreed to be a part of the initiative and therefore contributes US$20 to the account from their salaries at the end of every month, underscoring that the initiative is intended to help alleviate financial needs of the personnel of the entity, with the opportunity to request for a loan from the account (based on one’s salary) after contributing three or more times to the account. He disclosed that there are procedures to getting loan from the account, which include applying for it to the heads of the account, providing three guarantors and receiving confirmation to access the loan.
The EPS administration confirmed to the Hot Pepper that there is financial misappropriation with the EPS Development Account, but they, as administrators, played absolutely no part in it, as the account is totally managed by a team elected by the EPS agents themselves. They however declined to speak to the financial impropriety, noting that the matter is under investigation, and so they could not jeopardize the investigation. They also failed to disclose when the investigation will be concluded.
However, COS Williams informed the paper that Director Roberts have intervened and stopped all withdrawals until every contributor can get back what they have put into the account. As of now, he disclosed, 70% of the funds have been reclaimed and disbursed to the benefactors, and that they are left with only 30% to be paid back to the agents.
As it relates to the 100 personnel who were being underpaid for several months, the EPS administration also confirmed that these staffs were recruited early last year, but under special arrangement because the budget year was at the last half. They said the recruits were informed about what they would be making, which was US$105 and L$10,000 until the next budget year could be approved.
The Comptroller of the EPS, Philip Mahn, informed the Hot Pepper that payment of EPS personnel is straightly handled by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. He quickly pointed out that the matter has been handled since August 2022, stating that all of them are now earning the regular salary of an EPS agent. According to him, after the matter was resolved, some of the personnel came asking for retroactive payment for the months they were underpaid, but he told them that he had no jurisdiction over the matter, and referred them to Finance Ministry if they had any inquiry.
The EPS administration wondered why unscrupulous individuals would choose to tarnish the reputation of the elite guide, which is to the detriment of their hard-earned characters.
The Communication Director of the EPS, Philip Moore, said there is a need for the media to closely follow the activities of EPS and provide accurate information to the public, in the interest of national security.
As the Hot Pepper intends to follow the investigation up to its logical conclusion, inside sources have told the paper that the EPS administrators’ revelation is only meant to save face, as there is more to the story. Investigation continues.
