Kanty Online News has been credibly informed that the President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, isn’t happy with head of the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin over the timing and manner of the arrests of former government officials as it relates to AREPT activities on Thursday, June 27, 2025.
Yesterday, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) of the Liberian Government, headed by Martin, along with officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP), stormed the homes of certain former government officials to effect arrest.
Their action follows a ‘detailed’ investigation into the illegal handling and diversion of 29,412 bags of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2023. The rice was intended to support disaster victims and vulnerable communities across Liberia.
Noticeable among those arrested included the former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former Acting City Mayor of Monrovia and former General Services Agency (GSA) Director-General, Madam Mary T. Broh, Mr. Varney A. Sirleaf, former Minister of Internal Affairs, Mrs. Thelma Sawyer, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Henry O. Williams – Former Executive Director, National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
Others brought in by AREPT were Augustine Tamba – Deputy Director for Operations, NDMA, Augustine M. Kollie – Director for Disaster Victims, NDMA, Edward S. Konneh – Employee, NDMA, Archievego M. Doe – Communications Director, NDMA, Edris Bility – Former Deputy Director for Operations, GSA, Mamie Davies – Assistant Director, GSA, Momolu Johnson – Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs/Administration, Rosetta L. Gbassay Bowah – Logistics Officer, NDMA, Wayfa Ciapha – Purported CEO, Group of 77, and Evelyn Gbee – Warehouse Manager, GSA.
Left to right: Former Foreign Minister Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former Monrovia City Mayor Mary T. Broh and National Disaster Management Agency Executive Director Henry O. Williams
There are reports that the ‘tactical’ movements of officers of the LNP to conduct the arrest at some of the places, especially at the home of Madam Broh, a long and very good friend of President Boakai and the present Liberian Administration, might have created health scares in some of the neighbors.
Social media in Liberia became flooded that the nonagenarian former President, Nobel Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, had to be medically paid attention to as her blood pressure suddenly spiked high. Right adjacent her official home in Oldest Congotown, Monrovia, is the home of Madam Broh, who, too, is a very good friend of the former President. To get to Madam Broh’s residence, one has to pass right before the former President’s home. So, anyone sitting in the veranda of Madam Sirleaf’s home will watch every action happening.
“Another thing that foolish arrest caused for the government is that it took away from the very good thing that is happening right now in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County,” a very senior official of the Administration told The Liberian Post.
Today, June 27, President Boakai is leading some of his very top officials to attend the program for the Reburial and Funeral Service of former President Samuel K. Doe and Madam Nancy Bohn Doe, former First Lady of Liberia.
At the home of former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah
“So, you see? I can tell you for a fact, most of the senior ministers were never tipped off of this mass arrests that was carried out yesterday. Even the President didn’t know. This borders around national security, too. While AREPT has prosecutorial powers, but it is just best that some of these things be alerted so that such embarrassment can be avoided. What Cllr. Martin did was not appropriate and expedient!”
This senior government official further disclosed that even senior hierarchies of the ruling Unity Party are not happy, too, with Cllr. Martin’s action on Thursday.
“One thing, even senior security personnel, including the Police IG, the Justice Minister and the National Security Advisor to the President were not informed about the mass arrest,” the TLP’s very highly-placed source said.
Kanty Online News also cross-checked with another senior official in the government who confirmed the assertions of her undisclosed colleague. This official, who walks in the corridor of power in the Executive Mansion, added: “Definitely; I can assure you that the President is going to act against unprofessionalism in his Administration.” She couldn’t be forthcoming on whether Cllr. Martin or the Police Inspector General, Col. Gregory Coleman, who probably signed off on the police officers going to do the arrests, are going to be the next suspended individuals in this Administration. It has now been somewhat established under this Administration that once the President suspends someone, that person’s coming back to his/her post becomes very near impossible or slim.
Speaking from the residence of former Minister Kemayah on Thursday, his lawyer, Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull, expressed confidence in the judicial process. “All is well; we are under obligation to protect our clients,” Bull stated. She emphasized that they will respect the legal proceedings and allow the law to take its course.
Economic Sabotage and Misapplication
Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce Head, Counsellor Edwin Kla Martin
Inclusive of charges in the accused Indictment, are economic sabotage and misuse of public resources. The Indictment accuses Kemayah, Broh, Williams, and others of deliberately failing to maintain any records regarding the rice’s handling.
“During the period of A.D. 2023… Defendants interfered in the distribution of 25,054 bags… and developed a scheme to divert the purpose of the donation,” the document said. “They knowingly transferred, stole, purloined or converted the rice valued at USD $425,918.00.”
AREPT says no documentation exists of where the rice went or who benefitted from it — a fact that the Ministry of Justice says reveals an intent to sabotage state assets.
The third count, Misapplication of Entrusted Property, underscores the fiduciary breach. The indictment quotes Liberian law defining this crime as misusing or diverting government property held in trust. “Defendants… knowingly misapplied and disposed of 28,412 out of 29,412 bags… thereby violating public trust and their legal obligations,” the indictment states.
About the Case
AREPT says its investigation revealed that 25,054 bags of rice, valued at approximately USD $425,918, were unlawfully diverted by the accused. Instead of reaching the intended disaster victims, the rice was stolen through secret and unauthorized meetings, usurpation of NDMA’s statutory authority and removal and distribution of rice without documentation or legal process. Some suspects have admitted to their roles, confirming a coordinated internal conspiracy and severe abuse of public trust.
Former Deputy Foreign Minister Mrs. Comfort Sawyer embraces a loved one when she was released from brief detention at the Monrovia Central Prison on Thursday
Crimes Charged Include:
Theft of Property,Economic Sabotage, Misapplication of Entrusted Property, Abuse of Office, Criminal Conspiracy
These crimes for which they were indicted under Liberian law constitute a grave breach of public trust and accountability. The government’s anti-corruption entity stated that the scandal has inflicted significant damage.
Disaster victims were denied critical food assistance, Saudi Arabia’s generous donation was misused, international trust was undermined, and public confidence in government institutions was further weakened.
Former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah hold his wife’s hand when he was released from brief detention in the Monrovia Central Prison
This indictment is the first of three investigations completed out of 30 active cases currently under investigation by AREPT. Additional indictments are expected in July. In line with legal procedures, the Government has also issued a Ne-exeat republica (travel restriction) to ensure that none of the accused flees the country during prosecution.
Under the leadership of Cllr. Martin, AREPT reaffirms its commitment to investigating, recovering, and prosecuting all instances of public asset theft. This indictment sends a clear message that corruption will not go unpunished. The Taskforce remains fully engaged with national and international partners to restore public trust and ensure that public resources serve the Liberian people.
Detention
So, on Thursday, June 26, following their, Madam Broh, Amb. Kemayah, and Williams were, in accordance with the court’s writ, temporarily held at the Monrovia Central Prison. But after a little while, they were released after their legal teams processed their individual bond arrangements. Further court actions are now pending and up to press time, no date had been set for further litigation.
