-Former Planned Parenthood Liberia Official disagrees with Corruption Conviction
By Jerromie S. Walters & G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
Monrovia, Liberia – Enree Bee Neeplo, the former Program Manager of the Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia, has claimed innocence after being convicted on multiple corruption charges, and vowed to appeal the court’s decision.
“While I respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling, I stand firm in my truth and the integrity with which I have lived and served. My legal team is actively pursuing several legal steps, including an appeal, to ensure that the full facts and circumstances are reviewed,” Neeplo stated in a message shared with those empathizing with her.
She emphasizes: “This is personal and I kindly ask for your understanding as I take time to reflect, protect my peace, and focus on the path ahead. Your continued prayers mean more to me than your calls right now.”
Guilty Verdict on Multiple Charges
The First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Court “C,” presided over by Judge Blamo N. Dixon, found Neeplo guilty of: Economic Sabotage (Theft/Illegal Disbursement of Public Funds), Fraud, Misapplication of Entrusted Property, Speculation or Wagering on Official Action
and Criminal Conspiracy.
The court ordered her to repay $200,765 in misused funds and imposed a $300 fine, to be deposited into government revenue. Additionally, the Ministry of Justice’s Probation Services must conduct a pre-sentencing investigation to determine if she is a first-time offender before final sentencing. A report is due by May 5, 2025.
“Finally, the Court has resolved for Defendant Neeplo to make restitution of the following amounts of money: 1. PEWETTA = US$96,875.00 2. FORD EVEREST SUV CAR = USS38,800.00 3. LAPTOPS = US$12,490.00 4. JND CATERING SERVICES = US$2,800.00 5. YOUTH CENTERS = US$38,800.00 AND 6. NARDA MEETING = US$11,000.00. The Grand Total is US$200,765.00,” the court document reveals.
In the basic Issues that formed the determination of the Case before the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Court “C”, the court averred that the Prosecution established a prima facie case against Defendant Enree B. Neeplo beyond a reasonable doubt to draw a logical conclusion that she is GUILTY of the
alleged Multiple Crimes laid down in the Indictment to warrant her conviction.
“The Prosecution established a prima facie case against Defendant Enree B. Neeplo beyond a reasonable doubt to draw a logical conclusion that she is GUILTY of the alleged Multiple Crimes herein above mentioned and laid down in the Indictment to warrant her conviction for the said Crimes.”
According to the records of the Criminal Court, it was established that the former Top Senior Staff of the then Management Team of the Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL), formerly known as the Family Planning Association of Liberia (FPAL),
organized, founded, formed, owned, registered, and operated the PEWETTA Security Services Incorporated to provide Security Services for PPAL, The Director of PEWETTA was Sando T. M. Bunday.
The PEWETTA Security Services Incorporated was organized during the tenure of the former Staff of the Top Management Team of PPAL, including Defendant Neeplo. The court records add that it was captured during the period of the conduct of the comprehensive Forensic Audit of the financial records, activities, and source documents of PPAL conducted by Parker and Company, LLC, which covered the period January 1, 2013, up to and including December 3 1, 2018.
The records intimates that the PEWETTA Security Services Incorporated was organized by the said former Staff of the Top Management Team of PPAL to provide Security Services for them, the Employees and the various Facilities owned by PPAL across the Country.
Moreover, Court documents emphasize that the Prosecution also established and proved that the Defendant had her Mother, Josephine Harris, alias Josephine Violet Harris, as Share Holder in PEWETTA representing Seventeen Percent (17%) Shares at par value of the One Hundred Percent (100%) Shares also at par value. The other former Staff of the Top
Management Team of PPAL divided among themselves the remaining Eighty-Three Percent (83%) Shares at par value. They also had their Relatives representing their Shares in PEWETTA; according to the Indictment and the Evidence adduced, during the Trial.
The records of the Court further revealed that the Prosecution also established that the acronym PEWETTA represented the names of the former
The staff of the Top Management Team of PPAL.
The Letter “P” in PEWETTA represented the name of Peter Collins whose Wife,
Leona Collins had Seventeen Percent (17%) Shares; the first Letter “E” in PEWETTA represented the name of Defendant Enree B. Neeplo, whose Mother, Josephine Harris, alias Josephine Violet Harris, also had Seventeen Percent (17%) Shares. The Letter “W” therein represented the name of William Gibson whose Wife, Victoria Gibson, had Seventeen Percent (17%) Shares; while the last “E” also therein represented the name of Ernest Vobah whose Wife, Rebecca Vobah, also had Seventeen Percent (17%) Shares and the Letters “TTA” represented the name of Miatta K. K. Cojolo, former Executive Director, whose Aunt Kadiyatu Sheriff had the largest Shares of Twenty-Two Percent (229%). J. Olionel Roberts and Syma Aaron Diawon, Sr. had Five (5) Percent Shares each in PEWETTA to constitute the One Hundred Percent Shares thereof.
The Prosecution also established and proved that the former Staff of the Top
Management Team of PPAL who owned Shares in the PEWETTA Security Services Incorporated allegedly disbursed the total amount of US$96,875,00 to PEWETTA. PEWETTA paid each Security Guard US$125.00 per month for 15 to 25 Guards,
The balance proceeds were allegedly distributed among the Shareholders of
PEWETTA, according to the Evidence adduced.
Furthermore, the Prosecution established and proved that the aforesaid former Staff
of the Top Management Team of PPAL, including Defendant Enree B. Neeplo allegedly breached the terms and conditions of the German BMZ-Liberia Project Restricted Funding Agreement sponsored by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
The former Staff of the Top Management Team of PPAL, including Defendant Neeplo allegedly withdrew the amount of US$38,800.00 from the BMZ-Liberia Project Account at the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) bearing Account Number 002-USD-2 122-306-3401; and allegedly purchased a White Ford Everest SUV Vehicle bearing VIN #MNCLS4D10BW32 1364 on March
28, 2013 from the Prestige Motor Corporation in Monrovia in the name of the said Institution.
The said former Staff of the Top Management Team of PPAL allegedly changed the Registration Documents of the said Vehicle and registered same in the name of Co- Defendant Miatta K. K, Cojolo, former Executive Director of PPAL, to the detriment and disadvantage of PPAL.
The Prosecution also established and proved that Defendant Enree B. Neeplo was a Statutory Member of the Procurement Committee of PPAL and awarded a contract to her former Fiance, Victor Shadrich Neeplo, Agent of Info Tech Fastrack, LLC in Liberia, for the purchase of Ten (10) pieces of Laptops allegedly valued US$12,490.00. She later became the Chairperson of the Procurement Committee.
The Quotation for the Laptops dated March 19, 2013. The name of Defendant Enree B. Neeplo was mentioned on the said Quotation. The Defendant disbursed US$4,370.00 to Victor S. Neeplo on March 26, 2013 constituting Thirty-Five Percent (35%) of the said US$12,490.00. It vwas on the same March 26, 2013 that the Defendant made requisition for US$38,800.00 for the renovation of the Youth Centers across the Country which were never renovated.
The Defendant then disbursed the balance of US$8,120.00 to Victor S. Neeplo on April 15, 2013; after Defendant Enree B. Neeplo and the said Victor S. Neeplo got legally married on March 15, 2014, as Husband and Wife. The Prosecution further established and proved that the said former Staff of the Top Management Team of PPAL, including Defendant Enree B. Neeplo awarded a Catering Services contract to the Mother of the Defendant, Josephine Harris, alias Josephine Violet Harris, and allegedly disbursed the amount of USS$2,800.00 to Madam Harris.
