Obediah Johnson
Africa-Press – Liberia. The administration of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), headed by Director Trokon Roberts, has been entangled into a corruption scandal and a calculated ploy to implicate and hold liable some Board and Management Team Members of the agency’s Development Fund which has backfired, bringing the institution to public disrepute.The EPS is an elite group of armed men and women providing security for the President, Vice President, Speaker and all VIPs in the Executive. They also provide security for foreign guests visiting the country.
It can be recalled that in June 2018, over 800 agents of the EPS adopted a constitution under the banner “Executive Protection Service Employees’ Development Fund” to afford them the opportunities to accumulate saving and create credit facilities for themselves, from which they can obtain loans for productive and provident purposes at a fair interest rate of 5%.
The Fund was managed by a Team of five (5) persons and its activities were being monitored by a team of three Board Members as Observers and Auditors.
Those who headed the management team were: James Helb (Chairman), Alex Togba (Co-Chair), Tony Morris (Credit Manager), James Paye (Financial Secretary) and Joseph Weah (General Secretary). The Board members were: Esther P. Chea (Chairperson), Emmanuel Wesseh and Stephen Morgan.
Those comprising of the management team and board were elected by agents of the EPS, who are referred to as shareholders under the Fund.
Section 1 of the constitution adopted by the agent states that: “In order for the EPS Employees Development Fund to achieve its intended goal and objectives, the sum of US$20 is charged as monthly due per member and it is to be deducted from all agreed member monthly salary check by the Comptroller of the EPS and transferred to the Fund’s Bank Account through its Management Team.”
Since then, more than US$400,000 has been deposited in the Fund’s account at the UBA. The Fund Account number # is: 53010550002258 with title: EPS Employees Development Fund.
Last year, the Chairman of the Development Fund James Helb absconded the country after it was established that over US$$200,000 was illegally and surreptitiously withdrawn from the account at UBA.
Helb was the A signatory to the account, while Alex Togba and James Paye were the remaining.
Audit conducted
Prior to the incident, a halt was placed on the payment of the US$20 by EPS agents following the conduct of an audit with a recommendation that disbursement be made to all the shareholders (agents) ahead of the ushering of a new government in keeping with the by-laws and constitution of the Development Fund.
The audit was conducted by one Jeremiah M. Gbellay, Sr and report submitted to Director Roberts on November 18, 2021.
Amongst other things, the audit uncovered that US$55,000 was withdrawn from the account by Helb unknown to the Board and shareholders for the purchase of land for agents of the EPS and identified other administrative lapses on the part of the administration.
Since the conduct of the audit, the Board of the EPS Development Fund has been requesting the Roberts led-administration to submit copies in order to inform all shareholders about the findings and outcome of the investigation.
“The Board of the EPS Employees Development Fund writes to ask administration’s indulgence into allowing us to have a copy of the audit report for perusal,” a communication dated January 6, 2022 and addressed to Director Roberts under the signature of the Board Chairperson noted.
But up to present, no copies have been submitted to the Board and the shareholders.
Requesting US$6000 from Fund
Though the EPS Development Fund account at the UBA bank was frozen by the administration when the act was uncovered, Director Roberts requested the amount of US$6000 to be withdrawn from the same account to pay the auditor.
“By directive, the Board and Administration of the EPS Employees Development Fund must ensure the full payment of the audit fee charged by the auditor in the amount of US$6000 as indicated in the attached imbursement communication submitted by the Auditor, Mr. Jeremiah M. Gbellay, Sr. with immediate effect,” Director Roberts mandated, in a letter dated November 15, 2021 and addressed to Madam Chea.
The cheque was made and the money released.
However, there are reports that the amount requested was not paid in full to the Auditor.
He reportedly received the amount of US$1500 for the audit carried out on the EPS Employees Development Fund.
In keeping with recommendations from the audit, the Board commenced disbursement to shareholders. About 70% payment has already been made to them.
Threatening protest
Despite the initial payment, aggrieved agents have been threatening to stage a protest ahead of the inauguration of President and Vice-President-elect Joseph Boakai and Jeremiah Koung due to the delay in the payment of their remaining 30%.
The remaining 30% is a little over US$167,000.
Documents in the possession of FrontPageAfrica reveal how the administration of the EPS failed to exercise its supervision role towards the management of the Fund, but now attempting to shift blame and ensure the prosecution of members of the Board, especially its Chairperson, Madam Esther P. Chea, for being allegedly responsible for the illegal transfer of the over US$200,000 from the account.
Madam Chea is the Chief of Training and Firearms at the EPS. She is not a signatory to the EPS Employees’ Fund account.
Roles of the Board
The roles of the Board of the EPS Employees Development Fund as stated in the by-law and constitution includes: to monitor the activities of the management team on all financial operations of the Fund, and receives monthly financial reports from the Management Team, perused it, make all necessary correction, to keep it accurate, prior to quarterly report to the shareholders of the Fund.
The Chairperson, who is also known as the Chief Administrator of the Fund, approves all administrative financial documents such as credit form, monthly debtors listing, monthly and quarterly financial reports, take note of all transactions made during the month for reconciliation purposes with his or her team members.
It also obligates the Chairperson to request for the list of personnel suspended for the period of one month, terminated, resigned, retired in order to update the shareholder’s investment and debtors accounts, and ensure that there are operational documentable receipts for all expenses during each month.
In keeping with her roles and responsibilities, Madam Chea on October 13, 2022, raised a red flag over the mysterious disappearance of over US$200,000 from the account after it was established that only Helb and two other former officials of the Fund were receiving bank alerts on withdrawal and deposit from the account at the time it was ordered closed by the administration.
Based upon a consensus, she also ensured that Helb was replaced by Emmanuel Wisseh as signatory to the Fund bank’s account to avoid further discrepancies and financial improprieties.
Her action to ensure the arrest of the alleged perpetrators and secure funds being deposited by the agents was backed by an official communication dated October 17, 2022 and addressed to Deputy Police Director Prince Mulbah.
Following the complaint filed, INTERPOL, on November 7, 2022, issued a red alert for Helb, who is reported to be in Ghana.
The roles of the EPS Administration
The by-law and constitution of the EPS Employees Development Fund clearly recognizes that the agency’s Administration serves at the will and pleasure of the President and as such, they shall exercise administrative authority over the financial affairs of the Fund.
For the sake of guardianship, it mandates the Administration to play an “advisory role and serve as ex-officio” of the Fund.
It also obligates the Administration to serve as internal prosecutor against offenses that contravene the Fund’s by-laws and the Standard Operating Procedures of the EPS.
In the case of grievous offenses that require legal actions, the constitution calls for the EPS to serve as Plaintiff, through the Professional Standard Section, to file lawsuit against any offenders.
It further calls for all periodic financial report to be channeled through the EPS administration for perusal and the administration would in turn convene a general meeting for the shareholders’ acknowledgement and discussion.
The lapses
Despite these obligations, the administration of the EPS has failed to execute its assigned tasks and responsibilities in playing a supervision role towards the management of the Fund.
Though reports have been provided by the Board and Management Team to the administration over the years, it has not convened meetings to abreast or sought the acknowledgement of shareholders.
The administration has also reneged to establish the Professional Standard Section, to conduct internal investigation against shareholders and executives of the Fund before extending any matter for further investigation by the police or INTERPOL.
Keeping James on the payroll
On November 2, 2022, the administration of the EPS instituted stringent administrative measures against Helb following the audit.
He was accused of abandoning duty since reports of the withdrawal of monies from the Fund’s account broke out.
“It has reached the attention of the Administration that since September 2022 up to present Agt. James E. G. Helb has failed to report to work without any official excuse. In view of the above, he is hereby administratively charged with abandonment of duty couple with lack of interest in the job and his services are hereby suspended for time indefinite with immediate effect,” a memo addressed to the Human Resource Department under the signature of Director Roberts on November 2, 2022 stated.
However, investigation conducted shows that Helb has not reported for work since June 2022 instead of September 2022.
Despite the termination of his services, payrolls obtained from the EPS show that salaries have been allotted to Helb from the periods of June 2022-August this year.
Though it is not clear whether or not the prime suspect in the corruption saga at the EPS has been receiving his salaries, the surreptitious appearance of his name on separate payrolls of the entity raises suspicion.
The administration remains answerable on whether or not Helb’s salaries are being kept in an escrow account or no disbursement or withdrawal of his salaries has been made.
Director Roberts also issued travel ban on the Board Chairperson and other members of the management team, and requested their photographs to be displayed at various border points without conducting any internal investigation.
This infringes on the right to freedom of movement of those banned as guarantee under the 1986 Liberian constitution.
Compromising the investigation?
Several persons, including agent Agatha Nyhorpulu Sayee of the EPS, the other two signatories to the Fund’s account and an employee of the UBA, were undergoing probe by Alex Newray (R9) of the LNP in connection to heir alleged link to the saga.
Agatha holds the account number: 53030500099138 at the same UBA in Liberia.
A copy of the EPS Employees Development Fund account bank statement reveals that the amount of US$180,000 was paid to agent Sayee from the account between January 26 to October 12, 2022.
But her personal bank statement shows that she only received the amount of US$3,800 from the Fund.
She was previously given loan under the Fund to seek advance medical treatment in Ghana following a period of protracted illness.
Agatha and others were prevented from further submitting to the investigation based upon the alleged order of some higher-ups within the EPS, including one Osei Williams.
Williams, who is not an agent of the EPS, normally claims to be a Security Consultant and Special Assistant to Director Roberts.
He was abroad when the scandal broke out at the agency, but arrived two days later after being briefed by his boss.
He has been accused of allegedly threatening officials managing the fund, including the late Tony Morris who was the Credit Manager.
Williams reportedly collected relevant documents surrounding the Fund from Mr. Morris prior to his demise.
Diverting administration cuts
Monies deducted from suspended agents or those facing administrative actions are reportedly transferred to the EPS Employees Development Fund Account in violation of the by-law and constitution.
These cuts, which amount to several thousands of United States dollars, are only withdrawn from the account based upon the alleged order of Director Roberts.
Shareholders of the Fund agreed to do business with UBA through a cheque system and the transfer from development fund account to shareholder’s saving account.
However, the two systems applied for were criminally changed to U-Direct and LEO unknown to the shareholders and the Board. This prompted Helb to reportedly withdraw the over US$200,000 from the account.
While investigation surrounding the saga is ongoing, the Legal Analyst of the EPS identified as Stephen E. Morgan was requested by the administration to remove James Helb as an administrator to the article of incorporation of the Fund and replace him with the agency’s Comptroller Philip Nmah, unknown to the Board and other shareholders.
But the request has not been adhered to up to present.
The denial
When contacted via telephone, Director Roberts denied the involvement of any member of the administration of the EPS to the escape of Helb from the country.
He said neither him, nor any other person from the administration is signatories to the Fund’s account at the bank.
He, however, justified that the by-law and constitution of the Fund gives the administration the authority to prosecute, and as such, “people’ are getting afraid that they would be investigated and prosecuted.
“That money there had signatories. We were nowhere near anything like that. They just want to smear our character. This is coming to be a legal matter now. The constitution says we can only prosecute when things go wrong and so, we are about to prosecute people.”
Despite his response, the administration of the EPS appears to be showing no real interest leading to the arrest of the prime suspect Helb as evidenced by their lukewarm posture to follow up and provide updates on reasons responsible for the delay in the ongoing police investigation and final adjudication of the matter to the aggrieved agents.
As a result of media reports of planned protest by the agents during this transition period, Director Roberts and other senior officials of the EPS were constrained to convene a meeting with the agents last week.
The meeting was intended to commend the agents for the level of professionalism exhibited during the past years and find ways forward for the payment of their remaining 30%.
The EPS Employees Development Fund, previously EPS Bereavement Fund, was intended to help agents achieve and address challenges they may encounter while serving the government and people of Liberia.
Over the years the Fund has experienced series of setbacks ranging from illegal withdrawals and depleting of accounts by previous administrations of the EPS.
Past Directors and other hierarchies of the agency have been accused of taken monies deposited by the agents and walking away with impunitive prior to the sitting of a new government.
The current administration of Director Roberts remains faced with a huge task of ensuring that the remaining 30% is paid to every agent before the inauguration in January 2024.
Already, the by-law and constitution of the EPS Employees Development Fund calls for monies deposited by shareholders to be distributed before the end of tenure of the outgoing government.
Agents of the EPS are being “incited and pushed to the wall” to act against some of those who have been wrongly implicated by the administration of the EPS in the saga.
Their lives, properties and relatives are also at risk as a result of the situation.
The current transitioning team, including outgoing President and President-elect George Weah and Joseph Boakai must intervene to avoid the situation being a replica of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) soldiers’ corruption saga which prevented Lofa County Senator-elect and former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai from taking his seat.
source:frontpageafricaonline
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