FIU DISMISSES STAFFS LINKED TO HIJACKING INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION

Monrovia, Liberia: For criminally conspiring to tipp off and hijack sensitive investigative information for personal gains, the Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia (FIU) has with immediate effect dismissed two of it’s senior staffs.

The FIU in a release dated June 27, 2022, disclosed the dismissal of  Mr. Amos Goba for illegally taking sensitive information from the FIU for personal reasons, and Mr. Cooper Leamah for tipping off to his boss for over 10 years, which destroyed evidence and rendered the investigation meaningless.

Mr. Goba, as provided by the FIU release, in some instances conducted investigation on individuals for personal gains when such investigation was never sanctioned by the office of the Director or the Head of Legal and Analysis.

It was also established that Mr. Goba unprofessionally conducted those illegal investigations and criminally reported to people outside of the FIU which was without the consent of the entity’s Boss Mr. Edwin Harris.

Executives of the institution believe Mr. Goba’s attitude was influenced by personal greed, as it was basically meant to sour the image and character of reputable individuals in society using his employment with the FIU.

Referencing legal norms that guaranteed the dismissal of the staffs, the release provided that Mr. Goba was in violation of section 67. 13 and the code of conduct of the FIU.

At the same time, in violation of section 67.13 of the FIU Act of 2012 and section 6.7.6 of the Human Resources Hand Book of the FIU, the Code of Conduct and Statement of Confidentiality, Mr. Cooper Leamah tip off to his boss for several years, and wrongly played with essential evidence (s) that could aid the investigation.

Mr. Cooper who was a senior member of the FIU and signed on to the code of conduct of the FIU, did not disclose such conflict of interest; with the only aim of protecting his boss and stalling the investigation which violates blatantly the code of conduct to which he signed on.

“His action of willful blindness has not only undermined the investigation since, but has rendered the entire investigation meaningless, as evidences were tempered with and in some instances not seen,” the release provided.

When Mr. Leamah managed the STRs it was observed that he intentionally deleted two STRs filed by a local bank in favor personal gains even after the local bank reached out to him to follow up and he responded to the bank that “you have filed and you have nothing with it”.

However, after Mr. Goba was discovered, FIU Director general designed mechanisms  to prevent the illegal and unauthorized information by disabling USB port on every computer within the Unit including computer assigned to Mr. Goba.

Following the rigid mechanism setup by the FIU Boss to safeguard the integrity of the Institution, it was said that Mr. Goba openly and angrily insulted his Boss Mr. Edwin Harris, in the presence of  staff for measures that prevent staffs including him from stealing classified information for personal gains.  

However, based on the violation for personal gains and reputational risk to the FIU, the FIU in keeping with section 67.13 of the Financial Intelligence Unit Act of 2012 Will send a referral to the Ministry of Justice since the violation hinges on second degree felony.

“The general public has been advised not to do business with any of the name of the FIU with the two dismissed staffs” the FIU release added.