Liberia to arrest ex-president

MONROVIA – Liberian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the post-war transitional government president, Gyude Bryant, who has been indicted for corruption, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

“The writ of arrest was issued on Monday by the solicitor-general of the Republic,” said Charles Mataley, spokesperson for the justice ministry. Bryant was formally accused last month of embezzling $1,3m during the two years he led the war-torn country before a democratically elected government took over in January last year.Mataley said a court officer failed to effect the arrest on Monday because Bryant was not in Monrovia, having travelled to northern Lofa county for personal business.”The officer will go back to Bryant’s house this morning (yesterday) …and if he is there he will be brought to court,” he said.An audit of the former west African country implicated several former top government officials in the looting of public funds during their tenure.The audit was undertaken by the 15-member regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).Three ex-ministers arrested in December on accusations of siphoning state funds were freed on bond awaiting trial.When warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor was forced to step down from power in August 2003 in a bid to end 14 years of war, an interim government was installed to run the resource-rich but impoverished country.Businessman Bryant was appointed by regional peace brokers to lead the administration and help steer the country back towards democracy.Nampa-AFPBryant was formally accused last month of embezzling $1,3m during the two years he led the war-torn country before a democratically elected government took over in January last year.Mataley said a court officer failed to effect the arrest on Monday because Bryant was not in Monrovia, having travelled to northern Lofa county for personal business.”The officer will go back to Bryant’s house this morning (yesterday) …and if he is there he will be brought to court,” he said.An audit of the former west African country implicated several former top government officials in the looting of public funds during their tenure.The audit was undertaken by the 15-member regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).Three ex-ministers arrested in December on accusations of siphoning state funds were freed on bond awaiting trial.When warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor was forced to step down from power in August 2003 in a bid to end 14 years of war, an interim government was installed to run the resource-rich but impoverished country.Businessman Bryant was appointed by regional peace brokers to lead the administration and help steer the country back towards democracy.Nampa-AFP