In the Ongoing Sheik Assirou Kante Passport Saga: FBI Submits Seized Diplomatic Passport To Gov’t
The Government of Liberia (GOL) says it has received copy of the actual diplomatic passport, which was seized by the FBI during a search operation on the premises of businessman, Sheik Bassirou Kante.
Making the disclosure on Thursday, June 16, 2022, Information Minister, Ledgerhood Rennie, said the process followed a request assistance from the United States government through the U.S. embassy, in consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
He expressed the Liberian government’s deep appreciation for the collaboration, coordination and support of the government of the United States in the ongoing passport saga.
The Information Minister noted that, in an effort to implement a long-term decisive security enhancement regarding passport scandals in Liberia, experts in passport operations, forgery and document security from the US are expected to arrive in Liberia at the end of June.
Liberian businessman Sheikh Bassirou Kante was arrested in America on the 20th of April for money laundery. According to a source, Bassirou has been under investigation since April 16, 2021 for crimes committed between 2020 and 2021.
With sources confirming that Bassirou allegedly stole over 8 million USD within the span of 1 year. He was arrested on April 20th in the United States for allegedly using different schemes to redirect wire transfers from two well known companies in America.
Sheikh is the CEO of Royal Gold Trading Company and Royal Gold Car Rental Services. He recently paid for the funeral of the victims of the New Kru Town Stampede, and handed out hundred of bags of rice, vegetable oil and money to the families to help them. He is the one who also brought P-Square to Liberia during the Bicentennial celebration.
It can be recalled that President George Manneh Weah directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, to immediately investigate circumstances leading to the issuance of the diplomatic passport to Sheik Bassirou Kante.
In his directive, the President ordered that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately stop the issuance of diplomatic passports to anyone unless otherwise authorized by him.
The Liberian Chief Executive also directed Minister Kemeyah to submit a full report detailing a review of how Liberian diplomatic passports are issued.
The report by the Foreign Minister was to be submitted to the President by May 10, 2022. But Minister Kemayah appealed that more time be given the investigation and make the findings public by June 6, 2022. However, up to date, the Minister is yet to submit his report.