By By: The People News Online
Monrovia, Liberia — The Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority, Ernest R. Hughes, has reportedly been suspended and turned over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation following allegations of corruption involving a foreign contractor.
Multiple sources familiar with the matter say Hughes was allegedly caught in a recorded conversation soliciting a 15 percent kickback from a Canadian navigation company identified as Intercan Navigation.
According to one source, the LAA boss allegedly contacted the company’s Head for Africa and demanded a bribe before approving payment owed to the firm for services rendered to Liberia’s aviation sector.
“The Government of Liberia placed US$1 million in the airport’s account to settle the company’s payment, but the Managing Director reportedly held on to the money and demanded his percentage before releasing it,” the source claimed.
Sources further disclosed that the LAA Board of Directors decided during a meeting on Tuesday to suspend Hughes, pending the outcome of the investigation. Since then, he has reportedly been secretly reporting to the Ministry of Justice for questioning.
In the interim, Deputy Managing Director John Borway is said to be serving as Acting Managing Director, overseeing operations at the authority.
The alleged corruption case has also reportedly been brought to the attention of the President of Liberia, raising the stakes in what could become one of the most serious integrity probes involving a senior government official in recent months.
When contacted via WhatsApp for comment, Hughes declined to respond to the allegations. However, another senior source within the Liberia Airport Authority confirmed that the matter is under investigation.
The Ministry of Justice has yet to issue an official statement, but the unfolding probe is expected to determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
Developing story.
