Police Arrest Four Suspects In Scholarship Scam
- Liberia National Police arrest four suspects in scholarship scam.
- Allegations involve the misuse of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s name.
- Victims reportedly paid thousands for fake scholarship offers.
- Obediah Mattar claims innocence despite evidence against him.
- Connection to QNet raises serious concerns over fraud in the region.
Investigation Highlights Suspects and Their Claims
The Liberia National Police (LNP) have taken significant action in Monrovia, arresting four suspects involved in an alleged scholarship scam that falsely used the name of Vice President Jeremiah Koung. This scheme aimed to trick Liberians into paying for fraudulent scholarship opportunities, particularly opportunities to study in Canada. The arrests took place on July 15, 2025, at the Zone-3 Police Station located in Congo Town, a suburb of the capital. Authorities are now reminding citizens to be cautious regarding such offers that appear too good to be true.
Denials Among Arrested As The Investigation Deepens
Among those arrested was Obediah Mattar, who insisted he was merely visiting a friend engaged in a different business. Mattar vehemently denied any involvement in the scam after being detained. Authorities seized receipts pointing to victims who had paid US$1,000 for these fraudulent scholarships, having already forked over an initial US$200. Meanwhile, another individual, who was only named Samuel, claimed he was a businessman focused on marketing health and wireless products and had visited the office to exchange ideas with associates when police detained everyone present.
Connections To Controversial Company Raise Concerns
There was also Princess Kolakeh, who reported being arrested while getting on a motorbike, asserting she had no connection to any scholarship scheme, only selling health products through network marketing. Another detainee, Princess M. Gongloe, acknowledged she knew one victim, named Faith, who had bought health products worth US$895. Gongloe emphasized that she operates in product sales, not scholarships, reinforcing her innocence amid the police scrutiny. The case is drawing attention as it appears tied to QNet, a company with a dubious reputation in West Africa for similar fraudulent activities.
The arrest of these individuals highlights an alarming trend of educational scams in Liberia, prompting a call for greater vigilance among the public. Authorities are taking steps to investigate the wider implications of these schemes, especially connections to companies like QNet that have faced scrutiny in the past. As this case unfolds, more questions are likely to arise about the effectiveness of consumer protections against such fraud.
