General News
Boyfriend Business
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- Published on Thursday, 28 February 2013 10:28
- Written by The News
...Overshadows Theft Case
The ongoing trial involving former Police Director Munah Sieh-Browne and four others intensified at Criminal Court “C” with defense second witness Prince O. A. Akinremi supporting testimonies provided by co-defendant Sieh-Browne.
Co-defendant Akinremi told the court Wednesday that he is not guilty of the charges brought against him by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
Akinremi argued that he is being prosecuted on the basis of what he called 'boyfriend business' between Cllr. Frances Johnson-Allison and Munah Sieh-Browne which started since the 1980s.
He told the court that the US$199,800 for which he and others are being tried is peanut; as such, he cannot engage in any criminal act to eat the amount.
Co-defendant Akinremi further said he has supplied uniforms and other materials to several government institutions without engaging in criminal act.
The defendant named the National Port Authority, Liberia Fire Service, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, United States Embassy and UNDP as institutions that his company, Ultimate Investment and Holding Company has supplied materials to.
Defendant Akinremi said his company has demonstrated high degree of sincerely and creditability thereby making institutions to have confidence in his company.
He explained that the police uniform in question was pre-financed by his company and delivered.
Co-defendant Akinremi contended that contrary to claim by BIVAC that his company did not make any shipment of uniform to Liberia in October 2008, his company did bring in uniforms to Liberia. He displayed document to substantiate his claim.
He testified that prior to the shipment of the uniforms as mentioned, his company had uniforms in stock.
He claimed that he's cut in the web because of personal problems between the former Police Director and LACC boss.
Akinremi said the case was greatly affecting his company as it could no longer get any contract.
He told the court that whenever his company wins a bid, LACC would write to deny his company to implement the project with specific reference to the construction of a 100-bedroom hospital in Fish Town, River Gee County.
Like co-defendant Sieh-Brown, defendant Akinremi also presented certificate from the Ministry of Justice in which the Ministry cleared his company of any wrongdoing.
Defendant Akinremi is the second defense witness to testify in the ongoing trial.
It can be recalled that co-defendant Sieh-Brown Tuesday testified and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
She told the court that she was being prosecuted because of 'personal vendetta' as a result of problem she and LACC boss had in 1981.
Madam Sieh-Brown accused the LACC boss of loving to her child's father in 1981 which made them to fight on the campus of the University of Liberia.
Madam Sieh-Brown and others are being accused of siphoning over US$199,000 intended to buy uniforms and other accessories for the Liberia National Police.
The former Police Director and others were indicted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) after the Justice Ministry said it could not proceed with the case because of lack of sufficient evidence.
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