Judge J. Boimah Konto of the Civil Law Court in Monrovia has ordered the arrest of several former government officials in connection with a missing 53.34-carat diamond. The arrest warrant listed Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Gesler Murray, former Minister of Mines and Energy; Mustapha Tounkara, President of the Diamond Dealers Association; and other associates linked to the appraisal, certification, and sale of the diamond.
The action by the lower court follows findings from the Supreme Court’s investigation of legal irregularities surrounding the seizure and handling of the diamond. Judge Konto stated that the entire process of appraisal, certification, and sale—conducted under the Kimberly Process—was influenced by the Attorney General’s opinion, lacking transparency and proper documentation.
In his ruling, Konto described the situation as “a network of a criminal cartel woven together through connivance, secrecy, and collusion,” asserting that it is highly unlikely the diamond could have vanished without the involvement of these high-level officials. Judge Konto ordered that Cllr. Dean and the other named individuals are to be imprisoned until the diamond is accounted for.
He directed that the former officials be incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison until they either locate or provide an account of the diamond’s whereabouts. The court’s decision is a significant step against alleged corruption and abuse of authority in Liberia’s natural resources sector.
In 2023, the 53.34-carat diamond was discovered in Gbarpolu County but subsequently went missing, prompting the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court to order the arrest and detention of the former government officials. Since the arrest order was issued, the suspects have yet to be seen in the bailiwick of the court as the sheriff pursues them to ensure their arrest.
