By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
The Ministry of Justice has ordered the immediate suspension of the Assistant Director of Prisons for Operations, Mr. Lawrence Bohlen, pending an investigation into a leaked audio recording that is currently under official review.
Preliminary findings indicate discrepancies surrounding a donation of one hundred (100) bags of 25kg rice donated by His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP) as a Christmas goodwill gesture.
While official documentation shows that the full quantity was delivered, only seventy-five (75) bags have so far been accounted for, leaving twenty-five (25) bags unaccounted for.
In line with the Government of Liberia’s commitment to accountability and transparency, the Ministry of Justice has constituted a special investigative panel to thoroughly examine the matter.
The panel is chaired by the Chairman of the Independent Parole Board, Mr. Standley Cooper, and is mandated to conduct a comprehensive and impartial investigation.
The investigative panel is expected to submit its findings and recommendations within two weeks.
The Ministry of Justice reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding public resources and ensuring that all donations intended for inmates are properly received, managed, and utilized. Appropriate administrative and legal actions will be taken upon the conclusion of the investigation.
