By Precious D. Freeman
The Monrovia City Court has issued a writ of arrest for Mustapha Yassine, Khadoun Ismail, and the Management of Auto Spare Garage, following grave allegations of forgery, deceptive writing, and criminal conspiracy intended to defraud Lebanese national Mohammed Hayek of US$12,000 in unpaid leave benefits.
According to official court documents signed by Judge L. Ben Barco, the defendants are accused of conspiring to produce fraudulent documents on January 15, 2024, that falsely claimed Hayek had received his annual leave benefits from 2017 to 2020.
The documents, submitted to the Labor Court, reportedly bore Hayek’s forged signature.
In his complaint to the Liberia National Police, Hayek, 32, a former employee of the garage, stated he never received the payments and was unaware of the forged documents until they were used against him in a labor dispute.
He accused the company of cutting and pasting his signature onto forged receipts.
The LNP’s investigation corroborated Hayek’s claims.
Forensic examiners determined that the documents were photocopies with identical signatures—suggesting manipulation.
During questioning, Mustapha Yassine admitted to signing as a witness on the disputed receipts, but insisted the documents were genuine.
Investigators believe Yassine and co-defendant Khadoun Ismail, both employees of Auto Spare Garage, acted with full knowledge and approval of the company’s management.
The garage reportedly refused to comply with police requests for original signature samples for forensic comparison.
“The deliberate falsification of payment records and use of forged documents to deny an employee his lawful benefits is a criminal violation of Liberia’s Revised Penal Law,” the charge sheet reads.
Specifically, the defendants are charged under Chapters 10 and 15, which address criminal conspiracy and forgery.
Mustapha Yassine, 40, was arrested on April 9, 2025, on Mechlin Street in central Monrovia.
His alleged accomplice, Khadoun Ismail, remains at large and is being sought by authorities.
The case has now been formally brought before the Monrovia City Court.
If convicted, the accused could face significant prison terms and financial penalties.
Legal analysts say the incident highlights ongoing concerns about unethical labor practices and accountability in the private sector.
“This is not just about one man’s leave pay—it’s about upholding the integrity of employment rights in Liberia,” said one Monrovia-based legal expert.
The public is closely watching as the trial proceeds, with labor advocates urging stricter enforcement of employment laws and stiffer penalties for violators.
