Liberian security officers have arrested a 40-year-old man for impersonating the country’s Minister for Mines and Energy, Hon. Wilmot Paye, and attempting to defraud a citizen of $5,000 under the pretense of securing a Class B mining license for him.
The culprit, Abraham Gbogar Gbogar, was arrested on the evening of May 12 at the Duport Road junction in Monrovia, according to a report.
During interrogation, Gbogar claimed to be an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and apologized for impersonating Minister Paye.
The victim, identified as Peter Logan, a Class C miner from Rivercess County, said Gbogar attempted to convince him to pay $5,000 to upgrade his license.
However, Logan, citing Minister Paye’s known stance on integrity and transparency, grew suspicious and opted to give only $50 for transportation to Gbogar’s intermediary.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, in a statement, distanced itself from the fraudulent act, emphasizing that neither the institution nor Minister Paye solicits money for licenses.
“All application procedures for obtaining mining licenses are outlined in the Minerals and Mining Law and its accompanying regulations,” the statement said.
The Ministry is cooperating with state security in the ongoing investigation.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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