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| BIG LAND DISPUTE IN KAKATA -Lebanese Trader Claims Ownership, But… |
| Published on August 28, 2006 | Email To Friend Print Version
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The Circuit Court in Margibi County has granted a motion for continuance in a land case involving a Lebanese trader and a Liberian businessman in Kakata. The case has lingered in the Circuit Court for over one year.
Cllr. Richard K. Flomu and several lawyers representing the Lebanese businessman identified as Mr. Rocky Ahmar seem to prolong the matter on the basic of legal proceedings apparently due to lack of evidence.
A letter to the court signed by Cllr. Richard K. Flomu alleges that the prime witness, Mr. Samuel G. Dean is sick and has been advised by his doctor to take enough bed rest.
While the case is being delay by lawyers of the Lebanese trader, the parcel of land is presently being developed by the Liberian businessman identified as Mr. David Siaway who is the Manager of the Kakata branch of West Africa Enterprises Incorporated.
Mr. Siaway is rapidly constructing a store on the parcel of land in dispute to compete with foreigners doing store businesses in Kakata.
The Court records revealed that Mr. David Siaway leased the land for 30-years from a Liberian business woman identified as Madama Sirleaf. However, the Lebanese business man, Mr. Rocky Ahmar who is claiming ownership of the land countered Mr. Siaway’s ownership right. His document submitted to the court indicates that he has been leasing the said land for an initial period of five years from the witness. But witness Samuel G. Dean’s where about remains unknown.
Mr. Rocky Ahmar has made no move to make meaningful development on the land since the tenure of his alleged lease agreement just as Mr. Siaway has done.
The judge of the Circuit Court in Kakata, Margibi County, James Mooney, told our reporter in Kakata recently that Mr. Samuel Dean who is at the center of the case made no appearance since the matter was called for hearing.
Judge Mooney however exhibited what appeared to be a medical report without the valid signature of doctor but signed by Margibi Health Coordinator Mr. Joseph J. Korhene in Kakata, alleging that Mr. Samuel G. Dean who allegedly leased the land to the Lebanese businessman is illed and cannot appear in court. The medical report which has been challenged by lawyers representing Mr. David Siaway was served on June 19, 2006.
The land in question is situated and lying between the Kakata Police Detachment and the Rami Brothers Store, connecting two lots.
Sources accounts of the land revealed that one Rohannah sold the property to Mrs. Madama Sirleaf. Our sources further revealed that prior to purchasing the land from Rohannah, Mrs. Sirleaf and surveyor Wilmot James were requested by Mr. Samuel Dean to seek counsel with his late parents.
The Deans confirmed to Mrs. Sirleaf that they sold the property to Rohannah giving Mrs. Sirleaf assurance to buy the land from Rohannah in 1988 and was re-surveyed by Surveyor Wilmot James on a transfer deed.
Surveyor Wilmot James when contacted confirmed to this paper that he resurveyed the said land in favor of Mrs. Sirleaf in 1988.
At the same time, investigation by this paper indicates that Mrs. Sirleaf has operated a filling station on the land since 1988 until the war in 1989.
During and after the war, Mrs. Sirleaf leased the premises to one Faraday G. Moore for five years, commencing from January 1999 to December 2005. After Mr. Faraday G. Moore’s lease agreement expired, sources hinted this paper that Mrs. Sirleaf again leased the land to the current lessee, Mr. David Siaway who is currently erecting a store on the land.
The Lebanese trader told our reporter through one of his lawyers in Kakata recently that nothing would stop him from pursuing justice in the matter.
He explained that he leased the land in 1999 from Mr. Samuel G. Dean, who is believed to be administrator of the Deans’ Estate in Kakata. But the Lebanese national, Mr. Rocky Ahmar could not give any contact details of Mr. Samuel G. Dean.
Prior to the lease agreement, to Mr. David Siaway in 2005, Mrs. Sirleaf paid a little over L$ 50,000 and US$ 1,000 to compensate people who were squatting on the land.
Meanwhile, the Judge of the Circuit Court in Kakata, James Mooney, says the court granted a motion filed by Mr. Rocky’s lawyers. According to him, the Lebanese lawyers requested the court for continuance because their witness, Mr. Samuel G. Dean who sold the parcel of land to the Lebanese business man is ill.
Whether Mr. Dean would ever go to clarify in court remains unclear. The matter was brought to the attentions of journalists who recently accompanied President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to Kakata by Mr. David Siaway indicating that he wanted if given the opportunity at the time to bring the matter to the attention of the President. Investigation continues.
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