Minneapolis, Minnesota: Weeks after the sudden arrest of the Political Leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has called on the Dr. Daniel Cassell to quit all political activities within the scope of Liberia until a logical and legal conclusion of the outcome of his current US trial .
ALJA, in a press statement issued Monday, April 11, 2022, believes Dr. Cassell should unquestionably be disassociated from functioning in any moral or political role within a political party, considering the length of said allegation.
As provided by the arrest sheet, PLP Political Leader Daniel Cassell who is also the founder of Kwenyan Professional Health Services, (a mental health/behavioral and substance abuse agency) was apprehended on Thursday, March 17. 2022, on grounds that he reportedly billed clients multiple times.
“It is unimaginable for a political leader of Mr. Cassell’s repute to be accused of the violation of the law in a foreign land, least to be accused of absconding from the law,” ALJA’s President Joe Mason said in a release.
The Association however maintained that while it believes that Mr. Cassell deserves his day in court and is innocent until proven guilty, it is however disappointed in the severity of the charges leveled against the opposition politician by the US criminal justice system.
However, as Dr Cassell has undoubtedly been one of the major critics of the Weah led administration, ALJA considers the reported allegation against Dr Cassell as hypocritical on his part, especially considering the changes it follows.
“it is hypocritical for Mr. Cassell, who has consistently criticized the Weah’s government for acts of corruption to continue to conduct business as usual while these serious allegations are being adjudicated in a court of law,” ALJA alluded.
The Association expressed curiosity over the PLP Political Leader failure to address concerns relating his arrest in the US, while he spoke to the Islamic community on the observance of the holy month of Ramadan, but did not consider the essence and importance of addressing issue relating his sudden arrest in the US.
Judging from said perspective, ALJA appears relentless on it’s call to the PLP Political Leader, to take a break in his political career, until issues surrounding his recent case is exhausted.
” ALJA is therefore urging Mr. Cassell to the right thing by stepping aside from political activities in the country while he goes through the legal process,” the release noted.
ALJA is a conglomeration of current and retired Liberian journalists residing in the Americas. It is a 501c (3) non-profit organization. The Association was founded in 1998 with the objectives of fostering companionship amongst its members and their American counterparts.
Dr Cassell was reportedly arrested by the Clayton County Sheriff Office in the US state of Georgia as a fugitive from justice. Media reports quoting court records from Georgia have stated that Dr. Cassell entered the state with prior knowledge that he was wanted for the alleged commission of fraud, a felony offense, in the state of New Jersey.