Friday, 20 January 2012 19:50         

http://www.liberianobserver.com/index.php/news/item/243-lbdi-employee-other-arrested-for-theft-and-money-laundering

Two persons, including an employee of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI), accused of withdrawing huge amounts of money from the Buchanan branch of the LBDI under false pretense and running away to Gbarnga with the booty, have been arrested awaiting trial in Buchanan on theft and money laundering charges.

Police spokesman, George Bardue, told reporters in Monrovia yesterday that suspects Marcus Dunn, 31 and Windell Kpankai, 32, were arrested in Gbarnga, Bong County, recently after they duped LBDI branch in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, of US$45,000.

Dunn and Kpankai have also been charged with forgery and theft of property.

The suspects have been arraigned before the Magisterial Court in Grand Bassa County.

According to an LNP preliminary investigation, suspect Dunn manufactured two checks in the amounts of US$25,000 and US$20,000, respectively.

The investigation further disclosed that suspect Dunn allegedly forged the signatures of two other persons, Alexander Gee and Billy Tokpa and withdrew the amounts from LBDI Buchanan Branch and subsequently fled to Bong County.

The police did not say whether Gee and Tokpa had any US dollars accounts at the bank and the relationship that might have existed between the two men and the suspects.

Neither did the Police say whether or not during their preliminary investigation, the two suspects denied or admitted to committing the crimes.

Reporters were not given the opportunity to talk to the suspects.

According to police spokesman, the suspects, after their arrest based on a tipoff in Gbarnga, were taken back to Buchannan and charged.

“A huge portion of the stolen money,” according to police, was discovered with Kpankai who has also been charged with criminal facilitation and hindering law enforcement.

According to police, four motorbikes and a vehicle were purchased by the suspects with some of the money and US$450.00 was found with Kpankai.

The retrieved cash and other items that were discovered with suspects have been submitted to Magisterial Court authorities in Buchanan as the suspects await prosecution.