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ADNews-Monrovia,Liberia: Allegations of selective justice are threatening to undermine Liberia’s anti-corruption campaign following claims that Varlee F. Sarnor, former Acting Director General of the Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE), is receiving preferential treatment in an ongoing corruption case.
Contributing Reporter
Sarnor, who currently serves as Deputy Director for Operations at the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), has been indicted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) but has reportedly not been suspended from public office, raising concerns about political interference and uneven enforcement of the law.
Sources familiar with the matter told that Minister of State Without Portfolio Mamaka Bility is allegedly playing a central role in efforts to shield Sarnor from administrative accountability.
Sarnor rose to prominence at the BSE following the suspension of his former superior, Arthur Massaquoi, who was placed under investigation for alleged financial improprieties, administrative malpractice, and abuse of office. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai ordered Massaquoi’s suspension amid mounting reports of corruption and mismanagement at the agency.
Established in 1985 by Decree No. 8, the BSE is mandated to oversee and advise on the operations of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). However, the institution has since been plunged into instability, with leadership turmoil disrupting its operations and weakening public confidence.
Prior to Massaquoi’s suspension, the BSE had been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of remuneration structures, stipends, and operational inefficiencies across SOEs — a mandate that raised public expectations for greater transparency and accountability.
Those expectations were shaken when scrutiny widened to include other senior officials, notably Sarnor, who was accused of contract irregularities, nepotism, and abuse of authority. Contrary to public anticipation, Sarnor was not suspended. Instead, he was quietly transferred from the BSE to the LRRRC as Deputy Director for Operations.
Insiders allege the transfer was facilitated through high-level political influence and executed without the full knowledge of President Boakai.
The LACC has since indicted Sarnor and several others on multiple charges, including economic sabotage, fraud against the Internal Revenue of Liberia, theft or illegal disbursement of public funds, and criminal conspiracy. According to the Commission, six individuals have been arrested and released on bond, while Sarnor remains wanted but continues to occupy a senior government position.
The situation has triggered strong reactions from civil society actors and political analysts, who argue that allowing an indicted official to remain in office erodes public trust and compromises the credibility of the government’s anti-corruption agenda.
“If Massaquoi was suspended pending investigation, then Sarnor should face the same treatment,” a political analyst told told the media
Meanwhile, credible sources say the LACC has completed and submitted its investigative report on Massaquoi, reportedly clearing him of substantial wrongdoing. However, insiders allege that the report has been deliberately withheld at the Executive Mansion to protect tribal and religious interests — a claim that, if proven, would raise serious concerns about political bias.
Critics warn that sidelining an exonerated official while shielding another facing grave allegations could amount to a deliberate distortion of justice.
Observers say President Boakai’s credibility is now being tested, emphasizing that the fight against corruption must be impartial, consistent, and free from political favoritism.
The controversy has also revived attention to President Boakai’s November 28, 2024 directive limiting the authority of acting heads of government institutions. The directive followed reports that some acting officials were making unauthorized decisions with major policy implications during leadership transitions.
In the directive, President Boakai clarified that acting heads are to serve strictly as Officers-in-Charge and are responsible only for implementing policies and decisions previously approved by substantive heads. He further mandated that acting officials may execute financial, personnel, and policy decisions only if they were pre-approved, and that in cases where the substantive head is unavailable due to illness, suspension, dismissal, or other urgent circumstances, prior authorization must be obtained from the Office of the President.
The President stressed that the directive was intended to safeguard institutional integrity, prevent administrative overreach, and ensure continuity in governance.
As public pressure mounts, Liberians are closely watching President Boakai’s next move. Many insist that how his administration handles the Sarnor case will ultimately determine whether Liberia’s anti-corruption campaign represents genuine reform or selective enforcement of justice.
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