MONROVIA: The anti-money laundry entity, Financial Intelligence Unit, now, Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), has been entangled in alleged shady financial transactions by leaders of the institution.
Recently, FPA reported an alarming deposit and withdrawal of huge amount of money from the entity’s account in one day – a bank transaction shows that the head of the entity received US$500, 000 and withdrew it on the same day.
Media reports indicate that FIA boss, Stanley S. Ford, was invited by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), to explain what he (Ford) knows about the deposit and withdrawal on the same day, and what he did with the funds.
Interestingly, Mr. Ford admitted in his statement to the LACC but clarified that he got instruction from above to engage in such fraudulent financial transaction.
Documentary evidence available to The ‘Investigative’ INDEPENDENT indicates that on September 22, 2023, during the heights of the Presidential and Legislative elections, Director-General of FIA, Mr. Stanley S. Ford, received US$ 599,000 and withdrew the amount the same day on the cheque bearing the name of the entity’s Comptroller who is identified as DMP Cooper.
Financial statements and analysis also showed that the aggregate amount received in 2023, was US$1,079 million, and FIA Director General Ford withdrew and disbursed over 90% of the amount in the name of the same Comptroller.
According to sources at the FIA, these shady financial activities were meant to enrich themselves during the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections to claim that the amount was to support the then governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) 2023 political campaign.
Mr. Ford refused to respond to media inquiry despite continued reminder via text messages over a five-day period. Mr. Ford is believed to be a staunch member and supporter of the former ruling CDC, even though the act that establishes the FIA speaks against political affiliation.
FIA boss, Stanley Ford, allegedly violated the Code of Conduct under ‘Political Participation’ by serving as Co-Chair of the CDC Financial Committee.
According to multiple documentary sources, the Ministry of Financial and Development Planning transferred the amount of US$500,000 to the FIA checking account on September 23, 2023, intended for ‘purchasing of IT equipment’ for the agency’s operators.
Disappointingly too, the D. Moses Cooper, Chief Comptroller- FIA allegedly withdrew the amount on the same of September 23, 2023. Also review the FIA’s bank statement revealed that no IT equipment were purchased in 2023.
During the administration of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the Financial Intelligence Unit was created, replacing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Then, in 2022, the Act creating the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) was amended by the National Legislature, thus bringing into being the establishment of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).
FIA sources hinted this paper the LACC has step up the investigation by pressing Director Ford to write more than two statements as it relates to the shady US$500, 000 transactions between him the Comptroller Cooper.
