The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) has again come in the defense of Upjit Singh Sachdeva, a renowned businessman who is accused of being the mastermind behind the alleged long detention of individuals arrested on the premises of the Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) in Weala, Margibi County.
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, a violent protest erupted at the SRC as a result of a fake propaganda apparently out of ignorance and to perceptively breed division between the management and its employees.
Mr. Sachdeva alias Jetty, being the owner of the Corporation was allegedly linked to the legal action taken against the alleged leaders of protest and is engineering the court not to hear the case against the former employees of the Salala Rubber Corporation.
Clarifying this falsehood, the CSNL described it as misleading contrary to public perceptions and media publications pointing out, “Let it be made clear the Government of Liberia is currently prosecuting Madam Mary P. Boimah and Lawrence Gorgbor, the former president and the Secretary General of the Workers Union respectively, and others for allegedly leading the violent protests.
The group said, though the incident occurred four months before Mr. Jetty took ownership of the SRC, the Government of Liberia is only using the SRC as part of the case because it was the one that got directly affected by the violent incident.
The Network explained that, “The Government of Liberia took legal action against Madam Mary Boimah and others, and not Mr. Jetty who took ownership of the corporation after the violent incident. The court has informed the CSNL that since it is still in pursuit of others on the writs of arrest that was issued for Madam Mary Boimah and others, the court cannot release her and those currently under its custody. This could potentially undermine the ongoing case.”
The Civil Society Network investigation established that the wave of allegations against Mr. Jetty is based on the corporation’s decision not to rehire Madam Boimah and her accomplice adding, “But it is important to note that when Mr. Jetty took over the corporation, all employees were paid off and a new recruitment process was initiated based on merit system.”
The new management of the Salala Rubber Corporation had the ultimate discretion to rehire and not to rehire any of the former employees based on its policies. And given the indictment against the former Workers’ Union president, Madam Boimah and others, the corporation was ethically and professionally right not to rehire those under court’s indictment. Therefore, it is foolhardy and illogical for anyone to hold Mr. Jetty liable for the court’s action against former employees of the SRC, including Madam Boimah.
CSNL also identified Madam Boimah who was the ringleader of the violent protest that led to the burning of the LNP Station and Magisterial Court in Kakata, Margibi County few years ago as being at the center of violence.
The group, while condemning unlawful imprisonment, termed their action as a threat against Justice and due process stating, “We call on Liberia to desist from politicizing issues that threaten security and investments in Liberia. The habit of shifting blame and besmearing the reputation of investors in Liberia has the propensity to scarce away potential investors.”
