-Over US$309K Unpaid Debt to Swedish Company
Sheriffs from the Debt Court on Tuesday sealed the main entrance of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) headquarters in Monrovia after the Corporation failed to honor a court-ordered payment of US$309,929.40, as unpaid debt for electrical materials supplied by a Swedish Company, ELTEL Network.
The writ of execution was issued on January 5, 2026. and signed by Judge James Jones, ordered sheriffs to seize and sell NEC assets until the US$309,929.40 debt is paid. If there are not enough assets, the order directs sheriffs to arrest and bring LEC’s managing director Mohamed Sheriff, and other directors before the court.
Judge Jones’ decision came after the arbitration panel appointed by the Debt Court on September 30, 2025, released its findings, declaring the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) liable for US$309,929.40, as unpaid debt for electrical materials supplied by a Swedish Company, ELTEL Network. The panel was established to assist the court in reconciling the 2016 agreement between ELTEL Network and LEC for the Swedish Company, to supply the electricity company with low-voltage (LV) materials.
Despite receiving the materials, LEC has repeatedly challenged the US$434,459, indebtedness to ELTEL Network owed to a local vendor, M-Tosh Prints Media, Inc. The case arises from a nine-year contractual dispute where a Swedish Company ELTEL Network filed an Action of Debt lawsuits, claiming that LEC is indebted to it for US$434,459 for electrical materials supplied to the corporation.
It was based on claims and counterclaims that led to ELTEL Network, Attorney-In- Fact, Hans Armstrong, a British national, to file a debt action before the Debt Court. The order followed a four-month arbitration with the LEC and ELTEL Network, reviewing invoices, purchase requests, and delivery notes among others.
Initially, Hans Armstrong sought US$434,459, as unpaid debt, but, after careful consideration, the panel reached an agreement of US$309,929.40.
The money in question resulted from a 2016 agreement between ELTEL Network and LEC for the Swedish Company to supply the electricity company with low-voltage (LV) materials, which they did. LV applications are diverse and include control rooms, distribution systems, lighting, communication systems, and security systems. LV wiring is often used in these applications, as it is designed for smaller currents and offers increased safety compared to regular wiring.
The company, since 2019-2020, had repeatedly complained about the management of LEC’s indebtedness, but, LEC has deliberately refused to settle the outstanding balance of US$434,459 despite several emails and official letters written to them.
Furthermore, on January 1, 2020, ELTEL Network wrote to the then LEC Chief Executive Officer, Monie Captan, reminding him of the promises he made to settle the outstanding balance. Unfortunately, Captan refused and failed to respond to the letter, leaving them with no option but to seek legal redress with the Debt Court.
They claim that between 2019 and 2020, they offered to the LEC management a settlement agreement based on a direct payment of US$360,000, meaning that if they were to accept the offer, ELTEL Network was going to waive US$74,452, which LEC failed to honor. Despite numerous emails and official letters written to the then Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LEC, Monie Captan, he refused to settle the debt, claims ELTEL Network’s Chief Executive Officer.
