By: IPNews, Staff Writer

IPNews-Monrovia: It was not too long, on
June 22, 2019, Liberia’s Solicitor General, Sayma Serenus Cephas, published a list of some former and current Liberian government officials, in one of Liberia daily newspapers, the Analyst Newspaper, under the caption “Government named Person of Interest in missing Billions”.

The move sparked controversies with scores of former and current Liberian government officials taking exception to the published list without being confronted and being audited as required by law.

There were swift reaction from former Finance and Development Minister, Amara Konneh, his Deputy, Dr. James Kollie, for Liberia Ambassador to the United States, Lewis Brown, former Health Ministers, Bernice Dahn and log time Surgeon Dr. Walter T. Gwenegale, including others, condemning the publication by the Solicitor General without due process and lawful audit.

Without addressing these concerns, the office of Solicitor General Cephus pronounced that it needed a mouthwatering 2.1 million to enable its asset recovery team to retrieve 4.6 billion allegedly stolen by former and some government officials.

Since the pronouncements, there have been mounting speculation and concerns from many quarters on the sincerity of the anti-corruption drive.

Now, the independent Probe Newspaper takes a deeper analysis into the unfolding controversies between Solicitor General Cephus and his recent outburst and threat against former Finance and Development Minister, now Development Expert, International Monitory Find-IMF, Amara Konneh, to ‘ complain him ( Amara Konneh) to his IMF Bosses, now raises more suspicions on the sincerity of the Solicitor General Cephus led ‘Asset recovery team’ and an attempt to intimidate the former Finance Minister.

The threats from a critical eye should never be overlooked given it is no secret that Sayma Serenus Cephus is a member of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change-CDC who many see as belligerent.

Importantly, political observers more the outburst and threats against Amara Konneh, as a political maneuver under the disguise of the judiciary, which remains a concern.

Ordinary citizens spoken to sees the public threat by a Solicitor General, especially publishing a list of “person of interest”, is intended to scare the accused into unwarranted discussion to justify the mouthwatering 2.1 million proposal made by Solicitor General Cephus asset recovery team in contradiction to the acceptable standards of the Robert Mueller style of focusing on building case against the accused as opposed openly attacking a selective accused member.

Chronologically, the outburst and threats against an accused member by the presiding judge ( Solicitor General) remain frightening news, as the system wasn’t designed to build a case against anyone, without ‘Probable Cause’.

Some Liberians see the outburst and threats against former Finance Minister Amara Konneh, as a clampdown his growing potential for any political maneuvering.

If the view that the latest outburst and threats can be equated to political justice, so than, the use of the judicial process for the purpose of gaining or limiting (or destroying) political power or influence of Mr Konneh, as perceived by many is counterproductive to the attainment of genuine asset recovery which is an overriding desire of all Liberians.

In fact, so view the attack by Solicitor General Cephus to cast clouds on Amara Konneh reputation –i.e. hard work, honesty, farsightedness, and a productive gentleman.

Taking further interest into Sayma Serenus Cephas, attack, mainly in the last paragraph of his email in the Analyst Newspaper that “history makes excuse for the weaklings.”; raises further questions on the sincerity of the asset recovery team when Mr Konneh has repeated publication of the so-called missing 13 million health support fund, and the EU Commission, clarification, yet the refusal by the Cephus asset recovery team to listen by the inclusion of Amara Konneh and his principal deputy Dr. James Kollie, in it, ‘s ‘persons of interest list’, is not only worrisome but brings into further questioning the genuineness of the ‘anti-corruption crusade or an attempt to crackdown potential political figures.

Truly, ‘fate is in every man’s hand, Amara. But every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.’ Watch out for Part II