By Moses J. Dawoe-Maryland (freelance)
A local businessman involved in foreign exchange in Maryland County has threatened to take his own life if the police fail to return money allegedly recovered from suspects who broke into his business safe.
Mr. Mark Nyemah, a resident of Pleebo City, made this alarming threat following a burglary that occurred in the early hours of Friday, December 13, 2024.
According to a police charge sheet, criminals broke into a safe owned by Mr. Nyemah and his business associates, including Mr. Odicious Allison, stealing significant sums of money.
During a press conference on December 21, 2024, the leadership of the Foreign Exchange Bureau Association, alongside the burglary victims, called on the Liberia National Police (LNP) to thoroughly investigate the incident.
National Secretary of the Foreign Exchange Bureau Association, Wala Elliott, alleged that the police officers handling the case are complicit in withholding the recovered funds.
He claimed that Officers Jimmie Kaydor and Police Superintendent J. Max Robert, among others, retrieved the stolen money from the suspects but have refused to return it to the rightful owners.
According to Mr. Elliott, the suspects confessed to stealing L$8 million, US$24,000, and CFA17 million.
The stolen money was reportedly buried and later uncovered by the police.
However, Mr. Elliott accused the officers of excluding the victims from the recovery process, raising suspicions of misconduct.
Officer Kaydor has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he has no connections with the suspects or involvement in the alleged cover-up.
He reported that the investigation team recovered L$246,000, CFA 29.5 and US$90 far less than the stolen amount.
New developments concerning the case are ongoing.
The discrepancies in the reported recovered amounts have further fueled tensions between the victims and the police.
Rufus Wilson, Acting Chair of the National Business Association of Liberia, warned that failure to recover and return the full amount of the stolen money could lead to widespread protests.
He criticized the government’s inaction, emphasizing that protests often become the only means to draw attention to grievances in Liberia.
“Despite sending multiple communications to stakeholders, no significant action has been taken. It seems some police officers may be colluding with the criminals,” Wilson alleged.
Mr. Nyemah’s suicide threat has added urgency to the situation, with business leaders and foreign exchange operators demanding immediate action to resolve the issue.
As the case unfolds, pressure mounts on the Liberia National Police to address allegations of misconduct and ensure transparency in the investigation.
