The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has strongly condemned a violent assault on one of its staff members, describing the incident as both a personal attack and a threat to Liberia’s ongoing fight against corruption.
According to a statement released Thursday, the staff member was assaulted by Mr. Marwolo Jallah, owner of Zest Group of Business Inc., a company currently under active investigation by the Taskforce. The attack reportedly occurred while the AREPT employee was officially serving a letter summoning Mr. Jallah to appear as a person of interest in the ongoing probe.
During the encounter, Mr. Jallah allegedly detained and flogged the staff member, inflicting physical harm. The matter was promptly reported to the Liberia National Police (LNP), who have since arrested Mr. Jallah. He is currently being held at the Zone 8 Police Station in Paynesville, the Taskforce confirmed.
In its statement, AREPT described the incident as “a barbaric act” and “a direct assault on the institution and Liberia’s collective fight against corruption.” The Taskforce warned that any attempts to intimidate or obstruct its lawful operations would be met with firm legal consequences.
“This act represents an attempt to obstruct justice, and it will not be tolerated under any circumstance,” the release stated.
AREPT extended gratitude to the LNP for its swift response and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the recovery of stolen and suspicious public assets. The Taskforce also called on the public to continue supporting its mission to promote accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
