By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives
Summary:
• A third defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial corroborated testimony from two co-defendants that members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case. The defendants said the officers inspected the facility after Koung moved into the area, though none identified the officers by name.
• Alexander Saye Plato denied charges of human trafficking, criminal conspiracy and theft of property, while also acknowledging his involvement with Infinity Millennium Platinum Star Limitless Institution, an organization defendants have described as affiliated with Qnet, the multilevel Malaysian e-commerce company, that has become synonymous with human trafficking throughout West Africa, undertaking legal activities recruiting people to be representatives and sellers for the company.
• The case, which involves 57 alleged victims, continues to focus on the compound where victims say they were confined, abused and exploited after being lured with promises of jobs and travel abroad.
One more defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking case on Wednesday corroborated earlier testimony from two co-defendants that four members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case.
Like the other defendants who have testified and maintained their innocence, Alexander Saye Plato told Criminal Court A in Monrovia that he did not commit the crimes of human trafficking, criminal conspiracy or theft of property. He said the officers visited the compound in Gbankpa Town, near Koung’s residence along the Roberts International Airport highway.
“When we started work, it was time that the Vice President moved to the place,” Plato testified. “When the Vice President moved to the area, some of the security of the VP came to the office to find out what is going on. So, Bill carried them in and they were presented and that is how they left and went. From that time, everybody started working and focusing on their organization.”
Like Rudolph Flomo and Maxon Wonlebaye, Plato did not identify the members of Koung’s security detail who allegedly visited the compound.
The case is the largest human trafficking prosecution in Liberia’s history, involving 57 alleged victims who accused more than two dozen defendants of human trafficking, torture, assault, rape and other forms of degrading treatment. Victims told investigators and prosecutors that they were lured with promises of travel to Canada or Australia and high-paying jobs, only to be stripped of thousands of dollars and confined at the compound.
Shelley Jonny, a former defendant whose charges were dropped after she agreed to testify for the prosecution, told the court that as many as 150 people were held at the compound at one point.
The property has become a focal point of the trial, which has drawn significant national and international attention. As scrutiny of the alleged crime scene has intensified, Judge Roosevelt Willie recently granted a defense request for the court, jurors, victims, defendants and lawyers for both sides to visit the compound, where victims say they were held and abused. The visit is expected to take place after the defense concludes presenting its witnesses.
In a WhatsApp message following Flomo’s testimony, Solomon Ware, a spokesman for Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s office, said the defendants had not identified the four security officers who allegedly visited the compound, making it difficult for the office to substantively address the allegation. He said officials were seeking additional information before commenting further.
Meanwhile, Alexander Plato joined his co-defendants in defending Infinity Millennium as a “genuine” business and acknowledged that, like others in the organization, he was encouraged to recruit additional members in order to earn money. He said he was introduced to the business by his brother, Bill Plato, who testified Monday that he and Daniel Davis were the two leaders of Infinity Millennium Platinum Star Limitless Institution, an organization they said was affiliated with the Malaysian direct-selling company QNet.
“They said if I bring nine persons, while the business is going on, I will make money,” Plato testified. “I said, ‘okay.’”
The older Plato said he eventually recruited others into the organization, including his girlfriend.
“My sister was doing the business in Guinea, Conakry, while I was doing the business on GSA Road, Paynesville,” he said.
He said many people purchased products through the organization.
“They came for presentation. After the presentation, some of them will go look for money and come buy the products,” he said. “They can’t force you to buy the products. Money paid is not refundable.”
Plato testified that when recruits did not have ATM cards to purchase products, he sometimes allowed them to use his personal card to complete the transactions. Questioned by Sumo Kutu Akoi, Liberia’s lead human trafficking prosecutor, Plato said the card was linked to an Ecobank account. He said he could not recall the account number and told the court that the card was in police custody.
The courtroom, including several jurors, erupted in laughter when Plato testified that he had graduated from the “Congo Town Peace Island Medical School.” The exchange came as Akoi questioned him about his qualifications and credibility as a health practitioner.
Although Plato acknowledged that money was paid for products sold through the organization, including some that were never received or used, he denied taking money from two women identified only as P. and M. The women testified that they paid him US$950 and US$1,475, respectively, after being promised opportunities to travel to Canada. Plato claimed M. had paid US$1,460 but rejected her allegations.
“I did not take anybody money,” he said. “I did not traffic. I did not take anybody money. I did not conspire against the complainants in this court.”
As has frequently happened throughout the trial, Wednesday’s proceedings were marked by clashes between prosecutors and defense lawyers over evidence and witness testimony.
One dispute centered on an agreement that Plato said he had signed with Infinity Millennium. Randolph D.M.O. Johnson, speaking for prosecutors, argued that the defense had failed to give notice before seeking to introduce the document, an assertion defense lawyer Sennay Carlor rejected. Prosecutors also argued that the name on the document was “Bill M. Plato Torkor,” not Bill Plato.
Judge Roosevelt Willie admitted the document, ruling that it did not refer to any of the alleged victims. He also rejected the prosecution’s argument over the name discrepancy, finding that it was not material to the proceedings and describing the document as a referral form.
Later, Judge Willie asked Alexander Plato about Bill M. Plato Torkor’s whereabouts.
“He’s here,” Plato replied, pointing to Bill Plato in the dock, who had previously denied using that name. The exchange prompted laughter in the courtroom.
Although defendants have repeatedly linked Infinity Millennium to QNet, the company has consistently denied any connection to the alleged crimes. In its latest response, QNet said it had no involvement in the case and that “it would be inappropriate for QNET to comment further on the case or on any testimony at this time” because of the ongoing legal proceedings.
“We have zero tolerance for the misuse of our brand for illegal purposes and will cooperate fully with any relevant authority where appropriate,” Francis Sam, QNet’s public relations manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, wrote in an email to FrontPage Africa/New Narratives.
Victims accused Plato of beating and torturing them, including forcing them to lie under the sun with their faces turned upward, depriving them of food and water, and confiscating their phones. They told police, FrontPage Africa/New Narratives and the court that the alleged abuse often occurred when they refused to recruit relatives or ask family members to send money. Plato denied the allegations.
“I did not punish anyone,” he said. “If somebody says I punished them, let them bring the video recording or the photo that you see my hand punishing them. Is it possible for 57 people to be kept in a place with less than three persons over them, abusing them? Where some of them have spent one year six months, one year, six months, five months without reporting?”
Meanwhile, after defense lawyers complained that prison authorities had failed to provide food for the defendants when they returned from court, Judge Willie described the situation as “a violation of their rights” and ordered that meals be provided. Carlor told the court that the defendants had been served breakfast on Wednesday morning. The defendants responded by nodding and smiling as the judge issued his ruling.
The hearing resumes Friday, when the defense is expected to call its final two witnesses.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. Funding was provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The funder had no say in the story’s content.