By Leroy M. Sonpon, III on Ceasefire Liberia
The Director of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Mr. Marc Amblard, admitted that corruption exists in the LNP.
He said illegal fees were being requested by some officers of the LNP in the performance of their statutory responsibilities.
Mr. Amblard, however, clarified that his leadership was doing everything possible to arrest the situation.
The LNP Chief made these assertions at the weekly press briefing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), held at UNMIL Headquarters on Capitol Hill, Monrovia.
The police boss was replying to a reporter’s question as to whether LNP officers were requesting fees from the public before effecting the arrest of suspected wrongdoers, particularly in civil cases.
“Before I started wearing this uniform, corruption existed in the LNP and it is still within, but we are doing everything within our reach to eradicate corruption from the force,” Amblard emphasized.
The LNP Inspector General also noted that his administration would ensure that police officers with “the habit of extorting money” from citizens and other residents would be dealt with.
“As part of our Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) deliverables,” the IGP continued, “we are working to have a police force, where we have the standard operation procedures, wherein when an individual goes to complain at the police station it should be a safe haven.
“And because we have the standard operating procedures, we are going to start training all of the police depot commanders and the staff to enable our officers and others to know and understand their roles in society. We are not going to say that it is not happening or it will not happen, but we are saying we will do everything humanly possible to curb that situation,” he maintained.
There have been widespread reports that at nearly every police depot officers habitually demand money from citizens for “walking fees and clearing of desk fees” among others. But Amblard said there should be no fees charged for services.
“If anyone paid for service at the LNP, they are the ones encouraging corruption,” he declared.
He cautioned members of the public to desist from paying for services at the LNP. The United Nations Acting Police (INPOL) Commissioner Guatam Sawang pledged the UN’s continuous support for the LNP in making sure that the force gets its requisite training.
Story originally appeared on
Leave Your Comments