The Liberia National Police (LNP) has formally charged and forwarded to the Monrovia City Court a 46-year-old man identified as Stephen Cooper in connection with the alleged disappearance of two vehicles shipped from the United States for resale in Liberia.
Cooper has been charged with misapplication of entrusted property and theft of property, according to a police charge sheet issued by the LNP’s Auto Theft Squad.
According to the Police charge sheet, defendant Cooper, a resident of Duport Road Community, Paynesville, was arrested on February 17, 2026, in the Johnsonville Township.
The arrest followed a complaint filed by Vamuyah Sheriff, a 44-year-old Liberian national currently residing in the United States.
The police charge sheet states: “That, on the above date and time mentioned, defendant Stephen Cooper of the city of Paynesville, Duport Road Community was arrested, informed of his constitutional rights and charged with the commission of the crimes, Misapplication of Entrusted Property and Theft of Property in violations of Chapters 15, Sections 15.56 & 15.51 of the Revised Penal Code of the Republic of Liberia.”
Police Investigators alleged that in 2024, Sheriff shipped several used vehicles from the United States to Liberia for repairs and resale.
The vehicles were entrusted to a mechanic identified as Jomah Kamara.
According to police, Sheriff instructed Kamara to release a Toyota Tacoma to Cooper for sale. The charge sheet states that Cooper later returned with US$7,900 — slightly below the reported agreed price of US$8,000.
The document further alleges that Sheriff subsequently authorized the release of two additional vehicles-a 2003 Toyota Highlander and another Tacoma- to Cooper for sale.
The investigation, amongst other things revealed that after taking possession of the vehicles from Barnesville, Cooper allegedly “escaped and cut off communication with the complainant.”
“Since defendant Stephen Cooper took the two vehicles from Barnesville, he escaped and cut off communication with the complainant…,” the charge sheet reads.
Authorities say Cooper was later apprehended in Johnsonville Township and transferred to the Central Police Station for further investigation before being forwarded to court.
Cross-Border Commercial Dispute Turns Criminal
Police investigators noted in their findings that the complainant “lives in the United States of America and usually sends used vehicles to Liberia for sale.” The arrangement reportedly relied heavily on informal trust between the vehicle owner, the mechanic, and the defendant.
The case highlights the potential risks associated with cross-border vehicle resale transactions conducted without formal contractual safeguards or monitoring mechanisms.
