Liberia: Over L$133,000 Scandal At Postal Ministry

Few months after the dismissal of Assistant Minister Thierry Genesis for his alleged involvement in corrupt practices at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, another corruption scandal has unearthed, this time around with Deputy Minister for Operation Soko V. Sackor being linked.

Eyebrows have been raised and concerns mounting amongst senior officials of the ministry over the purported withdrawal of L$33,000 from the ministry's account at a local bank which is not disclosed.Investigations revealed that the money in question was withdrawn outside of what is termed "normal administrative procedures" put in place to coordinate financial matters including withdrawals at the ministry.

An insider confided in this paper that any money withdrawn from the account of the ministry for what ever purpose must be signed by the deputy minister for administration and approved by the minister proper, but instead Deputy Minister for Operation Soko V. Sackor allegedly ordered the withdrawal of said amount from ministry's account under what is termed "refund to subscribers of the regular mail department". According to reports gathered from investigation, due to the alleged withdrawal of the funds almost a month ago, regular mailing, a process through which perishable goods are exported via Brussels Airlines and one of the major generating sources of the ministry, has stopped. While the regular mails are not being exported, sources maintained that during one of the ministry's senior staff meetings held on Monday, it was discovered that the amount in question was withdrawn from the account upon the approval of Deputy Minister Sackor by the Central Cashier, identified as Francis Sellu.The regular mail department is headed by one Mrs. Angeline Mulbah one time head of Expenditure Mail Services (EMS). When contacted, Deputy Minister Soko V. Sackor who came to notoriety during the transitional period, said he would not comment on the matter as a committee has already been set up to investigate the matter, but that he would comment when ordered by the Minister Solunteh.