Two clergymen indicted for theft of property and misapplication of entrusted property have filed a criminal appearance bond of US$468,336 at Criminal Court “C” to secure their temporary release from the Monrovia Central Prison.
Bishop Manaseh Conto and Rev. Steven F. Kettor of the International Mission for Today Church located in Clara Town were on Friday, June 3, incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison for allegedly duping the Korea Trading Corporation Liberia Limited, which sells and rents vehicles, of over US$155,930.
The indicted men, who were employed with Korea Trading Corporation, were indicted by the Government of Liberia based upon a complaint filed by Korean businessman Hung Choi, Chief Executive Officer of the company.
In his complaint, he alleged that during the Ebola crisis in Liberia, he left the country for South Korea, leaving Bishop Conto and Rev. Kettor in charge of the company with 31 vehicles from July 2014 up to February 2015.
The indictment further stated that during their stewardship of the company, the Bishop along with Rev. Kettor commercialized 14 of the vehicles and ran seven Sedans, five buses and two jeeps for commercial transport.
The indictment alleged that the Bishop along with Kettor entered into a vehicle rental contract with the World Food Program valued at US$18,445 monthly from October 2014 to January 12 and up to March 2015
The indictment added that they received payment through Korea Trading Corporation ECOBANK account, but that the corporation only received US$31,320, leaving a balance of US$60,905 unaccounted for.
Bishop Conto was Wednesday, June 1, brought before the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice based upon a writ of arrest issued against him, but was later released on that day, until Friday, when he, along with Kettor, were incarcerated at the Central Prison.
Meanwhile, the two men have been temporarily released by Presiding Judge Emery S. Paye, pending court trial.
LINA
