By: Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
In a high-profile fuel theft case that has shaken Liberia’s petroleum sector, nine suspended security officers of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) have been found guilty of orchestrating a petroleum heist valued at nearly one million U.S. dollars.
On Monday, May 5, 2025, Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge A. Blamo Dixon delivered the verdict, convicting the defendants on multiple charges including theft of property and criminal conspiracy. The guilty parties (Andrew P. Nimely, Kingston S. Sneh, Emmanuel G. Garway, Robert S. Alfred, Alphanso Sackie, Beyan A. Cooper, John Kolubah, Peter Z. Tayn, and William V. Gray) were all employed in LPRC’s Security Department at the time of the crime.
According to court findings, the illicit activity occurred between September 2023 and January 2024, during which the convicts conspired to extract an estimated 193,659 gallons of petroleum products ( comprising gasoline, gas oil, and Jet A-1 fuel ) from the company’s jetty pipeline. The theft significantly affected operations at the Product Storage Terminal (PST), Srimex-China Union, and Connex.
Judge Dixon ordered the convicts to jointly restitute the stolen fuel’s estimated market value of US$941,895.11 and each pay an additional US$300 fine to the Government of Liberia. A pre-sentencing investigation has also been commissioned to assess whether the individuals are first-time offenders or repeat violators.
This conviction follows an internal LPRC probe in early 2024 that prompted the transfer of the suspects to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution. The investigation revealed deliberate damage to the pipeline infrastructure, which enabled the large-scale theft.
LPRC management reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on corruption, stating that corporate assets are national properties that must be protected. “Those entrusted with safeguarding our operations must act with integrity,” the company emphasized.
This landmark case is seen as a critical test of Liberia’s commitment to fighting corruption and safeguarding public resources.
