Monrovia –President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has suspended the Chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), Cllr. Dempster Brown, for an indefinite period without pay, pending the outcome of investigations into serious allegations of misconduct.
The decision follows formal complaints submitted by Commissioners of the INCHR
alleging that Cllr. Brown forged their signatures on a petition for a writ of Habeas Corpus filed before the Supreme Court of Liberia on November 12, 2024.
According to the complaints, the petition was filed without the knowledge or consent of
the affected Commissioners, who further contended that Chairman Brown misrepresented the filing as an official decision of the Commission.
The allegations, if substantiated, constitute a violation of Liberia’s Penal Law, Title 26,
Section 15.70, relating to the offense of forgery.
In addition to the forgery allegations, three Commissioners have accused Chairman
Brown of failing to convene board meetings for nearly two years, contrary to the statutory
requirements governing the operations of the Commission.
The complaints further allege that he arbitrarily withheld the compensation of fellow Commissioners without legal authority as a punitive measure arising from disagreements over his decisions.
In keeping with his commitment to accountability, transparency, and respect for the rule of law, President Boakai has directed the Ministry of Justice to conduct a thorough
investigation into the allegations and to take all appropriate legal actions should the
claims be substantiated.
The President has also instructed Cllr. Brown to immediately surrender all government
assets in his possession to the General Services Agency.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Cllr. Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh has been designated to serve
as Acting Chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights pending further notice.
