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Viewing cable 07MONROVIA491, LIBERIA: UPDATE ON HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07MONROVIA491 2007-04-26 14:36 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Monrovia
VZCZCXRO8164
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0491 1161436
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261436Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8453
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000491 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND INR/AA-BGRAVES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KCRM KJUS LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: UPDATE ON HIGH PROFILE CORRUPTION 
PROSECUTIONS 
 
REF: A. A) MONROVIA 00353 
     B. B) MONROVIA 00079 
     C. C) 06 MONROVIA 1112 
 
1. (U) The Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 24 on a 
motion filed by attorneys for former National Transitional 
Government of Liberia (NTGL) Chairman Guyde Bryant arguing 
that Bryant cannot be tried for "economic sabotage" (See 
Reftel A) because he enjoys immunity under Article 61 of the 
Constitution.  Article 61 states: "The President shall be 
immune from any suits, actions or proceedings, judicial or 
otherwise, and from arrest, detention or other actions on 
account of any act done by him while President of Liberia 
pursuant to any provision of this Constitution or any other 
laws of the Republic.  The President shall not, however, be 
immune from prosecution upon removal from office for the 
commission of any criminal act done while President."  The 
government argued that Article 61 does not apply to Bryant 
since he was never elected President of the Republic of 
Liberia and that Article 61 does not provide immunity for a 
criminal act.  The court is expected to hand down a ruling on 
this motion by May 11. 
 
2. (U) In a second high profile corruption case, former 
Speaker of the House of Representatives Edwin Snowe was 
arrested April 12 and charged with theft of US 1 million 
dollars from the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), 
where he served as managing director between October 2003 and 
January 2006. Senator Richard Devine (COTOL - Bomi County), 
Snowe's deputy at LPRC, was also charged with theft.  Snowe 
was released the same day of his arrest after he posted a US 
1.8 million dollar bond.  A hearing was held April 18 to 
determine the validity of the bond, which the government 
argued was invalid because the license to operate of the 
insurance company that underwrote the bond had expired. 
Snowe's attorneys filed additional documentation regarding 
the company's bona fides and the next step is for the 
Solicitor General to examine this documentation. 
Booth