A criminal court has ordered the arrest of Liberia's ex-president Gyude Bryant on allegations that he embezzled $1,3-million while in office. Bryant, who led the nation for two years as a transitional president following the end of Liberia's 14-year civil war, stepped down in 2005 after Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf won democratic presidential elections. Bryant's government was accused of mishandling the nation's finances.
A Liberian court issued the arrest order on Thursday after Bryant failed to show up in court twice this week. Bryant, who had been granted bail, now should be held at Monrovia's central prison until he answers to the charge, according to the court. Late Thursday, Bryant said that he had heard about the arrest warrant but that it had not yet been served. "The processes are unjust; there are lots of injustices being done to me," he said. |