The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 shut down Musa Hassan Bility’s Srimex Company for tax non-compliance. Bility is believed to be owing the Liberian government US$165,000 in taxation, according to reliable information.
LRA Communication Director, Kaihenneh Sengbeh, told the Hot Pepper that the Tuesday action to shut down companies and businesses was part of the government’s tax-collecting body’s normal routine in keeping businesses in time with tax payment.
Bility, who is the Chairman of the Liberty Party (LP) and the Collaborating Political parties (CPP), has accused LRA of politicizing the tax collection of the country. He said a company like Srimex, which is hugely contributing to the country’s economy, cannot be shut down for little amount like US$165,000. He accused opposition Unity Party (UP) of spreading the information on the closure of Srimex for non-compliance of tax, which he said is political. He has informed his clients and supporters not to be worried about the shutting down of his entity, especially during this political season.
Srimex is among several petroleum companies that are indebted to the Liberian government through the National Road Fund (NRF). According a document from the Legislature in the possession of this paper, Srimex is owing the government in road fund US$6,307,654.45. Out of this amount, Chairman Bility’s Srimex has paid US$325,402.79, with the remaining balance of US$5,982,251.66.
However, Bility has refuted the figure highlighted on the document presented to the Legislature from the LRA. Bility, who is an aspirant in the upcoming general elections for Nimba County district #7 legislative seat, has also been involved in corruption allegation from the places he has worked.
Recently, Bility was nailed guilty for corruption and ethical breach by the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) of FIFA, according to Supersports news. The court also reconfirmed the earlier decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee in 2019, banning the former Liberia Football Association (LFA) President for 10 years from all sporting activities.
FIFA ethics judges banned Bility for 10 years and fined him 500,000 Swiss francs (US$507,200). He was an executive committee member of the Confederation of Africa Football Association when he served LFA.
In 2015, Bility was blocked as a FIFA presidential candidate after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ruling that he failed an integrity check.