Days after the Minister of Internal Affairs of Liberia Francis Nyumalin brought an Indian identified as Manoj Kumar Vatwani into the country, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) has deported the Indian man from Liberia leaving more questions than answer.
According to our reporter, Vatwani was brought into Liberia on Sunday, June 9, 2024 by the Internal Affairs Minister and his legal team.
Our reporter who was on the trip with Minister Nyumalin and Vatwani’s legal team, disclosed that the Indian even rode in the back of the assigned government vehicle of the Minister of Internal Affairs from and was escorted to his (Vatwani’s) private residence of in Matadi.
But now being deported back to Sierra Leone by the Liberia Immigration Service, could it be that the Internal Affairs Minister’s action to have brought Vatwani in Liberia was illegal?
Did the Immigration at Bo-Waterside sign the passport of the Indian?
Vatwani fled the country after Criminal Court “C” Judge Blamo Dixon set him free of criminal charges brought against him by the previous regime.
Judge Dixon’s action was based on insufficient evidence provided by the government to prosecute Vatwani on the charges that were leveled against him. However, despite being set free by the court, he was considered a persona non-grata by the state.
It can be recalled, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, June, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) sent back Manoj Kumar Vatwani, to Sierra Leone for illegal entry into the country.
The LIS release stated that based on intelligence gathered that Vatwani was in the bailiwick of the Liberia, he was invited by authorities of the LIS.
The release disclosed that upon inspection conducted by the LIS on his passport, it was established that he did not have LIS stamp indicating “Seen Upon Arrival”, which amounts to illegal entry in violation of the Alien and Nationality Law of Liberia.
“Section 5.90 provides, “Any alien who enters Liberia at any time or place other than as designated by law, eludes examination or inspection by immigration; or
Laurie Massáquoi Page and obtains entry to Liberia by a willfully false or misleading representation or the concealment of a material fact, shall be subject to a fine of up to $1000 or imprisonment for up to one year or both,” LIS release stated.
The LIS action is in compliance with Annex 9 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1CAO) of 1947 which states “the last country in which a passenger previously stayed and most recently travelled from is invited to accept him or her for re-examination when he or she has been refused admission to another country.
According to the LIS, during investigation, Vatwani admitted that he directly came from Sierra Leone.
