The Office of President George Weah says the raging war against corruption as amplified by the move to probe Sirleaf-era officials named in authorized audit reports is a clear warning to those in the current Administration that: “What goes around comes around.”
In recent weeks, President Weah commissioned a special prosecuting body dubbed the “Assets Recovery Team” (ART), headed by solicitor general designate Syrenius Cephus, to review findings of previous audits conducted of various government institutions and officials by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
ART, in consultations with the Ministry of Justice, is expected to take prosecutorial actions where it finds it legally prudent having satisfied all the preliminary formalities.
President Weah, it can be recalled, emphasized in a meeting with some citizens on Unification Day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he had consulted with the Liberian Senate and that there was a possibility to review and institute subsequent legal actions in cases of alleged financial improprieties dating back to ten years.
Up to a total of US$500 million, an equivalent of the country’s national budget was estimated to have allegedly been siphoned by some officials and institutions of the previous government.
Speaking to Executive Mansion reporters Tuesday, Deputy Press Secretary Smith Toby said the President continues to lead the charge against corruption as he promised on the day he took office.
Toby said while current government officials are not immune to prosecution where a palpable cause has been established by prosecutors or an integrity body, “The President is not going to act simply based on rumors or perceived corruption.”
He said: “President Weah’s quest is to fight corruption head-on, therefore the Liberian leader has warned people working in his Administration that they will not be spared if caught in the act.”
TSS/abj/APA