By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has officially announced its fourth indictment, charging seven officials with the misappropriation of public funds intended for rural women empowerment, in a statement delivered Thursday, April 9, 2026, by Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, Chairperson of AREPT.
Cllr. Martin emphasized that the period since November 5, 2025, during which AREPT did not issue public reports, should not be interpreted as inactivity. “This reflects our commitment to a thorough, systematic analysis of facts and the careful establishment of credible and prudent evidence regarding allegations of public asset theft,” he stated.
The taskforce, he added, operates strictly based on verified evidence rather than speculation or hearsay. “Investigations into corruption and asset recovery are not driven by hearsay or assumptions. The culpability of defendants is determined by the weight of credible evidence, not speculation,” Martin explained.
AREPT’s statement reassured the public of its independence and impartiality in all investigative processes. “We operate strictly within our legal mandate to ensure that all investigations are conducted with transparency and precision,” Cllr. Martin said, emphasizing that the taskforce is non-political in nature.
Among those indicted are Mawine G. Diggs, former Minister of Commerce and Industry; Gudi J. N. Neufville, Financial Comptroller at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Joseph Yado Howe, former Senior Policy Advisor at the same ministry; and Kebeh Monger, President of the National Rural Women Structure of Liberia.
Also included are Elizabeth Finda Sambulah, President of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA); Josephine Handful Greens, former Secretary General of the National Rural Women Structure of Liberia; and Kemmoh Borbor, Cashier at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Cllr. Martin explained that the indictments stem from the 2023 fiscal year, when the Government of Liberia appropriated US$2,000,000 for the “Vulnerable Small Business Support Program,” intended to fund the Rural Women Empowerment Fund.
Evidence shows that US$1,819,469.43 of these funds, while allocated to support farmers, marketers, village savings and loan groups, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), was diverted for personal gain by the defendants. “Investigations uncovered that co-defendants, including Mawine G. Diggs, Gudi Neufville, and others, diverted these funds from their intended purpose with criminal intent,” Martin said.
AREPT also stressed that all defendants were afforded due process. They were formally invited to participate in the investigations alongside their legal counsel, consistent with Article 20(a) of the 1986 Constitution, which guarantees that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege, or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law.”
“The taskforce assures the public that there will be no witch-hunt. All individuals indicted are done so based on evidence establishing their involvement in the theft or misappropriation of public assets,” Cllr. Martin said, reinforcing AREPT’s commitment to fairness and transparency.
Cllr. Martin further highlighted that additional investigations remain ongoing into other cases of asset conversion and theft. “All stolen, converted, or illegally transferred Government of Liberia assets, including those held in foreign jurisdictions, will be diligently pursued,” he added.
AREPT’s announcement was formally communicated in coordination with the Executive Mansion, Ministry of Information, Liberia National Police, Ministry of Justice, and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), signaling a multi-agency effort to restore accountability and protect public resources.
