In Corrupt Charges: Sam Wlue Escapes Justice; Flee the Country, As Snowe Faces Police for Questioning

Liberia's Justice Minister, Francis Johnson - Morris

One of the charged officials for corruption in the former Charles Gyude Bryant’s government, (The National Transitional Government of Liberia) Mr. Sam Wulue has reportedly escaped the country, according to Justice Ministry Sources.

Sam Wlue, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and four others in the former government including former Chairman of the NTGL were charged for allegedly steeling millions of dollars from the country’s coffers by the Liberian Government.

According to sources, the former Minister escaped while under bound issued by the Magisterial Count in Monrovia awaiting further trail.

For his part, the former Chairman of the NTGL, Mr. Bryant was also charged for stealing more than $1 million from Liberia's coffers while in office.

Gyude Bryant, who led the interim government from October 2003 until when current President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took office in January 2006, had previously been accused of embezzlement in a report issued by the Economic Community of West African States.

Police had questioned Bryant in recent months as part of a wide anti-corruption campaign, and government officials said they finally had enough information to issue charges.

'Mr. Bryant has been formally charged with theft of property,' Information Minister Laurence Bropleh said, adding the figure of $1.3 million 'could go higher.'

Bryant took office as the country emerged from civil war and totalitarian rule by Charles Taylor, who fled into exile in Nigeria in August 2003 and is awaiting trial for war crimes in a U.N.-backed court for atrocities committed by his forces in neighboring Sierra Leone.

Liberia is still recovering from more than a decade of war and unrest, with limited electricity even in the capital, poor roads and wrecked industries. Sirleaf has spent much of her first year in office leading a crackdown on government corruption that Liberians have applauded.

Bryant declined to comment on the charges. One of his lawyers said they were awaiting the government's proof.

'If you make a charge, make sure you can support the charge,' Samuel Clark said. 'It is just not fair to make allegations when you have no proofs of those allegations.'

Bryant had said earlier that he believed he would be protected by immunity given to sitting heads of state.

In a related development, Mr. Edwin Melvin Snowe, former Speaker of the Liberian parliament was yesterday invited by the Liberian National Police for questioning on corrupt charges.

Mr. Snowe who previously served as Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining corporation (LPRC) has also been accused of steeling over one Million United States dollars while at that corporation.

During yesterday’s appearance, Mr. Snowe’s legal Counsel told the police that his client was ill and prayed to appear next week Tuesday for the matter.