LIBERIA LAWMAKERS AID HELD FOR COMPUTER THEFT http://allafrica.com/stories/200610270481.html

October 27, 2006Posted to the web October 27, 2006

It appears that the special committee set up recently by House Speaker, Edwin Snowe to investigate the reported looting of the Capitol Building has begun taking some positive steps aimed at bringing suspected looters to book to face justice.

Although the committed headed by Grand Kru County Representative, Gbenimah Slopadoe, has not officially submitted its findings to Plenary, but some staffers at the Capitol have already begun taking responsibility for the criminal activities, which have brought the 52nd legislature to public ridicule.

Efforts by a team of Capitol Building reporters to get in contact with Representative Tyler to provide details surrounding his personal Aid alleged involvement in the stealing a set of computer were unsuccessful as several staffers from his office told journalists that the lawmaker has gone home for agriculture break.

The Press Director of the House of Representatives, James Jensen, addressing a news conference yesterday in Monrovia, said the suspect, identified as Mr. Nyuma Williams, is currently behind bars at the National Police Headquarters in Monrovia awaiting court trial in connection with the crime.

Mr. Jensen quoted Representative Tyler as saying that while he and his staffers were parking his personal effects from his capitol building office to give way to the renovation of the Capitol, his Special Aid allegedly sneaked out the set of computer from the office unknown to him.

Quoting the Bomi County lawmaker, Director Jensen said after preliminary investigation conducted by Capitol Building security Personnel, it was discovered that the Special Aid indeed took the set ofcomputer , something that caused the lawmaker to turn him over to the police. He said the police have already begun effort to retrieve the set of computer, which contains vital information especially on the functions of the Committee on Ways, Means and Finance.

According to the Press Director, the suspect has denied having knowledge of the stolen computer, but allegedly expressed willingness to pay for the item to protect his character.

This is not the first instance for a staffer at the Capitol to be held by the Police in connection with looting at the First Branch of Government.

Another senior staff of the Lower House, James Kaisseo, who is Director of Maintenance, was jailed by the Police on order of Montserrado County Representative, Kettekumeh Murray, for failing to stop the looting spree, which according to the lawmaker, falls within the purview of Mr. Kaisseo.

Several staffers who have gone to the Capitol for their September allowances, upon hearing the news that one of their colleagues was in the custody of the police for allegedly looting his boss office, expressed surprise that some lawmakers have begun calling police on some of their colleagues. According to them, the action was a cover up because the lawmakers themselves were allegedly involved in the looting of their own offices.

Others pointed out that Speaker Snowe has already informed the public that Capitol Building staffers and by-passers allegedly looted the Capitol and so there was no need to set up a committee to investigate the matter since according to them, the doers of the acts have been identified.