Thursday, 3rd July 2008
Monrovia, Liberia - The Ministry of Justice announces that it was constrained to secure
from the Monrovia City Court a warrant of arrest for Mr. Roosevelt
Quiah for the commission of the crime of forgery committed by him while
he was on the soil of the Republic of Liberia. The Ministry says that
its action grows out of the fact that Mr. Roosevelt Quiah, purporting
to be acting by a corporation formed and operating under the laws of
the Republic of Liberia, under the name and style of Liberia Iron Ore
Company (Bong Mines), forged the signature of the Minister of Lands,
Mines, and Energy, and the seal of the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and
Energy, by which, under a purported Mineral Development Agreement and
other documents, the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy was stated to
have granted a Class A Mining license and concession for twenty-five
(25) years to the Liberia Iron Ore Company to prospect, explore and
conduct iron ore mining activities in the Bong Mines and Wologisi
areas. These representations were false and fraudulent as the
documents were forged.
The Ministry says that the object of Mr. Quiah perpetrating the
mentioned forgery was to commit fraud upon the owners of and investors
in Capricorn Iron Limited, and that this was done under the pretext by
Mr. Quiah that a legitimate mining license had been secured from the
Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Lands Mines and Energy,
for prospecting and exploration of the Bong Mines and Wologisi mining
areas. The Ministry of Justice says that there was criminal intent on
the part of Mr. Quiah as he knew fully that he had secured no such
license legitimately, that no such license had been issued by the
Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy, and that he had forged the
signature of the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy for the sole
criminal purpose and with the sole intent of having the investors and
owners of Capricorn Iron Limited pay over to him enormous amounts of
money.
Accordingly, the Government of Liberia, upon discovery of the criminal
acts perpetrated by Mr. Quiah, and faced with the continued need to
protect the sanctity of its pursuit and drive in combating acts of
corruption in our society, ordered the arrest and prosecution of Mr.
Quiah for his criminal acts, secluded himself from the authorities and
security personnel, and hurriedly departed the country. Upon being
returned today to Liberia, Mr. Quiah was served appropriately with a
properly issued court arrest warrant containing the charges against
him, was formally arrested, and will face prosecution immediately
following a formal indictment in the criminal court.
The Government will provide further information as the process continues.