By Jamesetta D Williams
MONROVIA–As Vice President continues to fight tool to nail to clear his name from public scrutiny over his alleged relationship with someone said to be connected to the RIA cocaine saga, so is Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah joining the under-pressure Vice President defense machinery, arguing that photographs with individuals accused of wrongdoing do not amount to evidence of criminal involvement.
All is not going well with the VP since the emergence of photo of him standing with one Anthony ‘Tony’ Denuka who is said to have links to drug cartel, including the RIA cocaine bust, which remains Liberia’s biggest and troubling drug case in recent history.
Vice President Koung has since clarified that he has no personal relationship with the gentleman in question, stating that as a public figure, he takes photos with people he does not even know – an explanation political opponents say does not suffice.
But Minister Piah, at MICAT Tuesday press briefing, said the government remains committed to ensuring that anyone connected to the alleged drug case is investigated and prosecuted if found culpable, regardless of position or status.
He assured the public that no individual would be shielded from justice, while urging citizens to allow investigators the necessary time and space to complete their work.
According to Piah, the government has listened to public concerns surrounding the investigation and has taken steps forward, including charging some individuals allegedly connected to the case.
He said the focus should remain on finding the truth and allowing the legal process to take its course rather than shifting attention to political claims and unverified allegations.
The Information Minister specifically rejected attempts by some critics to link Vice President Koung to the drug investigation based on photographs showing him with individuals accused of criminal activity.
Piah argued that public officials frequently interact with many people and that appearing in a photograph with someone later accused of a crime does not establish guilt.
“You cannot say because someone took a picture with somebody who later got arrested that the person in the picture is involved in the crime,” Piah stated.
He referenced similar international situations where public officials have appeared with individuals who were later investigated or arrested, emphasizing that association alone cannot serve as proof of wrongdoing.
The Minister accused some political actors of attempting to distract public attention from the ongoing investigation by attacking the character of government officials instead of focusing on the facts of the case.
He maintained that the investigation cannot be compromised because Liberia is working with international partners on the matter.
According to Piah, any suggestion of a cover-up is impossible because the case involves international cooperation and professional investigators tasked with uncovering the truth.
He reiterated President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s position that no one, including members of his own family, would be protected if found involved in criminal activity.
Piah called on individuals making allegations to provide concrete evidence rather than engage in speculation, stressing that the court process should determine the guilt or innocence of those accused.
He assured the public that the government remains committed to transparency and accountability throughout the investigation.
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