By: T. Lula Jaurey
IPNews-Monrovia-Liberia-20 November 2018: State lawyer yesterday, November 20, 2018, backslid in the conviction of suspended National Port Authority, Managing Director Matilda Parker for allegedly misapplying over US$800.000 when they conceded to produce witnesses to testify against Parker.
This follow their appearance before Associate Justice Sie-Nyene Youh, Justice In-Chamber, argued as to whether Criminal Court “C” has the legal jurisdiction to compel them to produce their previous witnesses to testify against Matilda Parker and her Comptroller Christian Pealey.
Initially, persecution had asked Judge Bioma Kontoe not to allow them produce witnesses who had earlier testified in their defense whereas the matter was suspended following a complaint filed by the prosecution counsel of jury tempering an allegation which was challenged by Parker’s defense lawyers.
Parker’s lawyer request was by then denied by Judge Kontoe prompting them to complain against Kontoe before Justice Youh leading to an imposition of a stayed order on Kontoe’s decision pending the outcome of the matter.
During yesterday’s argument prosecution lawyers conceded to relocating all of their witnesses in anticipation to appear and testify which the case resume.
Shortly afterward, Justice Youh’s lifting of the alternative writ previously issued, Justice Youh stated that she would communicate with the court to resume jurisdiction over the matter.
According to Justice Youh, the Supreme Court earlier mandate was for the trail court to begin the case as fresh with witnesses placed on the stand to testify following cross-examination of the parties in the proceedings.
Matilda Parker together with her Comptroller, Christiana Kpabar Paeley and Deneah Flomo, the proprietor of Denmar Enterprises, were expected to appear yesterday to answer to the multiple charges including theft of property, economic sabotage and criminal conspiracy.
Co-defendant Flomo according to the indictment, “between July 2011 to December 2012, along with co-defendants Matilda Parker and Christina Kpabar Paelay, then Managing Director and Comptroller of the National Port Authority (NPA), defrauded by designing a criminal scheme whereby they awarded two source contracts without the approval of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) to Deneah M. Flomo’s Denmar Enterprise on behalf of the National Port Authority.”
The document alleged that the contract was for the removal of wrecks from the Port of Greenville, and the provision of security consultancy at the Ports of Monrovia, Buchanan, and Greenville, valued at US$500,000 and US$300,000, respectively.
The indictment further said they made fraudulent payments of funds from the accounts of the National Port Authority, (NPA) to Deneah M. Flomo, for their personal use and benefits, in the amou7nt of US$ 800.000.00.
