By Grace Bryant Mollay
The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) has uncovered a major internal financial fraud scheme involving fake deposits, impersonation, extortion, and payroll manipulation.
The revelation was made by Mayor John-Charuk Siafa on Monday, June 2, during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, disclosing that there is an investigation currently underway, with several staff suspended and the Liberia National Police brought in to assist.
The mayor confirmed that the scheme has resulted in significant financial losses for the city and emphasized that his administration is taking strong measures to address the situation.
“This investigation is part of our administration’s firm resolve to tackle corruption and ensure transparency in public finance,” Mayor Siafa said.
He also addressed what he called “distortion and misrepresentation of facts” in recent media reports, clarifying that the probe was initiated internally as part of MCC’s efforts to clean up its systems.
According to Mayor Siafa, over ten employees have been suspended in connection to various fraudulent activities.
He noted that while the MCC had refrained from speaking publicly to avoid jeopardizing the investigations, internal reviews had uncovered multiple cases of serious misconduct.
According to him, a key element of the scheme involved the use of forged bank deposit slips submitted to the MCC Revenue Department. These counterfeit documents falsely claimed that funds both in Liberia and U.S. dollars had been deposited into the city’s Ecobank account, followed by requests for official receipts.
“Our investigation determined that these payments were never actually credited to the MCC’s account. One of the suspicious bank slips shared the same serial number with another, clearly indicating forgery. The employee involved was suspended on April 16, 2025, and the matter is now with the police,” Siafa revealed.
The mayor also outlined issues in the payroll system, revealing that suspended finance staff members had manipulated payroll submissions even after being removed from their posts. “In one case, a suspended employee allegedly colluded with someone at the bank to process an unauthorized payroll file despite written notification from the MCC that the individual was no longer authorized to handle accounts.”
“These fraudulent actions compromise the city’s ability to pay workers fairly and on time. We’ve had complaints from staff about salary deductions and unexplained adjustments. We’re now working with internal auditors and external agencies to correct this and hold responsible parties accountable,” Mayor Siafa stated.
According to the Mayor, the fraud uncovered is not isolated to a single department but spans multiple areas within the MCC, suggesting a well-organized and systemic network.
“You’re not talking about just one person stealing money. You’re looking at an entire syndicate operating across different parts of the institution. That’s why this is a challenging but necessary fight,” he said.
He emphasized the role of internal controls and cooperation with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), and the Financial Reporting Agency (FRA), all of whom are now engaged in the ongoing investigation.
Mayor Siafa issued a public appeal for citizens to stop engaging with intermediaries for payments or services at City Hall.
“MCC now has a one-stop shop at City Hall. We urge residents and businesses not to give money to individuals claiming to facilitate payments. All bills have account numbers clearly listed. Pay directly at the bank or through the authorized Ecobank outlet inside our facility,” he said.
He also warned against offering bribes to city police or staff, noting that both the giver and receiver of bribes are culpable.
Despite fraud, Mayor Siafa affirmed his administration’s commitment to rooting out corruption saying, “We initiated these investigations ourselves. We have nothing to hide. As findings emerge, we will take swift action. Those who are guilty will be prosecuted. We owe that to the people of Monrovia.”
As the investigations progress, the MCC has promised to provide timely updates and ensure legal accountability for all those involved.
