Mr. A. Dairus Dillon, Sr.
Capitol Building
Monrovia, Liberia
Contact: (231) 6 510 588
Email: adairusdillon@yahoo.com
 
Open Letter To President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

Re: “Knucklesgate Ii”
 
September 19, 2008

Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
President Of Liberia
Executive Mansion
Capitol Hill
Monrovia, Liberia
 
Dear Madam President:

I have the distinguished honor to present my compliments and take the nationalistic duty to commend you for your stewardship of our common patrimony, Liberia. I particularly wish to appreciate you for your positive engagement with our international partners and other stakeholders that has ensured the restoration of Liberia’s lost image and place in and amongst the comity of nations following decades of self-destruction.
 
Madam President, may I draw your attention to a chain of emails recently published on the FrontPageAfrica Website and in other local dailies in Monrovia referred to as the “KNUCKLESGATE II” scandal, in which it is alleged that Mr. Willis D. Knuckles, Jr. was soliciting 1Million USD (One Million United States Dollars) for or on your behalf from the Management of LISCR to have LISCR continue with the management of our Maritime Funds. 

This, in my mind, is a very serious allegation; and I wish to thank Your Excellency for the initial steps you have taken to detach yourself there from.  Your wisdom to appoint Dr. Elwood Dunn as head of the Commission to investigate the authenticity of the chain of emails is highly welcomed.   In addition thereto, I wish to respectfully advise that you also include some foreign forensic experts with the technology to bring to light the truism of this very grave matter.
 
In one of your initial steps to honestly show proof of your innocence of this matter, you are said to have advised Mr. Knuckles to “keep his distance” from you during the period of the investigation.  This move is laudable.
 
Madam President, may I respectfully suggest that you also consider taking similar or other temporary administrative actions against Cllr. Estrada Bernard who is also your Legal and Security Advisor, Maritime Commissioner Beyan Kesselley and Justice Minister Philip A.Z. Banks. 

My reason for this suggestion is predicated upon a statement attributed to you in the Friday, September 12, 2008 Edition of the Daily Observer Newspaper that some of the messages in some of the emails were showing signs of truth and “…………………that some of these things can be authentic and so for me, this is a despicable act of betrayal quite frankly because Mr. Knuckles should know what I stand for”. 
 
Madam President, may I remind you that contents of the chain of emails that you are said to have described as “despicable act of betrayal” alleged that your Legal and Security Advisor, Cllr. Bernard “get his Cellcom mobile number credited with US$200.00 (TWO HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLAR) and receives US$2,500.00 (TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS) monthly to protect Cellcom/LISCR interest”. 

The chain of emails also alleged that Justice Minister Banks received US$5,000.00 (Five thousand United States Dollars) for the same purpose. It also implicated Mr. Beyan Kesselley, Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime Affairs. These allegations seem to breach Subchapter D. Sections 12.50, 12.51, 12.52 and of the Penal Law of Liberia.
 
Section 12.50 reads thus:
 
BRIBERY
 
1.       Offense.    A person has committed bribery, a second degree felony, if he knowingly offers, gives or agrees to give another, solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another, a thing of value as consideration for:
 
(a)               The recipient’s official action as a public servant; or
 
(b).       The recipient’s violation of a known duty as a public servant.
 
2.       Defense precluding.          It is no defense to a prosecution under this section that a recipient was not qualified to act in the desired way whether because he had not yet assumed office, or lack jurisdiction, or for any other reason.
 
3.      Prima facie case. A prima facie case is established under this section upon proof that the thing of value was offered, given, or agreed to be given, or solicited, accepted or agreed to be accepted, as consideration for the recipient’s official action or violation of a known legal duty as a public servant if:
 
(a)     The consideration was a thing of pecuniary value; and
 
(b)     The actor knew that he was offered, given or agreed to be given by, or solicited, accepted from a person having an interest in an imminent or pending (i) investigation, arrest, or judicial or administrative proceedings, or (ii) bid, contract, claim or participation, and that the interest could be affected by the recipient’s performance or non-performance of his official action or violation of his known legal duty as a public servant.
 
Section 12.51 reads thus:
 
UNLAWFUL REWARDING OF PUBLIC SERVANTS
 
1.       Receiving unlawful reward.         A public servant has committed a first degree misdemeanor if he solicits, accepts or agrees to accept a thing of pecuniary value for:
 
(a)     Having engaged in official action as a public servant; or
 
(b)     Having violated a legal duty as a public servant
 
2.       Giving unlawful reward.  A person has committed a first degree misdemeanor if he knowingly offers, gives or agrees to give a thing of pecuniary value, receipt of which is prohibited by this section
 
Section 12.52 reads thus:
 
UNLAWFUL COMPENSATION FOR ASSISTANCE IN GOVERNMENT MATTERS
 
1.       Receiving unlawful compensation.   A public servant has committed a first degree misdemeanor if he solicits, accepts or agrees to accept a thing of pecuniary value as compensation for advice or other assistance in preparing or promoting a bill, contract, claim or other matter which is likely to be subject to his official action.
 
2.       Giving unlawful compensation.  A person has committed a first degree misdemeanor if he knowingly offers, gives or agrees to give a thing of pecuniary value to a public servant, receipt of which is prohibited by this section.
 
 
Madam President, the statement attributed to you that “some of these things can be authentic” raise some questions. For instance, is the “despicable act of betrayal” seemingly by Mr. Knuckles due to his ‘carelessness’ for having the chain of emails exposed? Or, can it be “authentic” that Cllr. Bernard, Justice Minister Banks and Maritime Commissioner Kesselley actually received the amounts as contained in some of the emails?

Mr. Knuckles, according to one of the emails is alleged to be soliciting 1Million USD (One Million United States Dollars) for or on behalf of Your Excellency. This allegation is grave. If this is true (even though I must submit that I have some doubts here), it is a violation of Section 12.50 of the Penal Law of Liberia. Permit me to also add that Article 62 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia tells of the attending consequences.

It states: “The President and Vice President may be removed from office by impeachment for treason, bribery and other felonies, violation of the Constitution and gross misconduct”.
 
In consideration of the above, I respectfully suggest that you also take practical, appropriate and or temporary administrative actions against your Legal Security Advisor Cllr. Estrada Bernard, Justice Minister Philip Banks and Maritime Commissioner Beyan Kesselley pending the outcome of the investigation so that you will be seen as taking impartial appropriate steps to erase the negative perception that Mr. Knuckles was acting with Your Excellency’s knowledge and consent.
 
I have the honor to be.
Obediently,
Dairus Dillon, Sr.