In Pogbaken Town, Karluway District, Maryland County, a Korean national- Hyeongji Choi, who raised concerns about the trafficking of coltan has been arrested. Choi was ordered arrested on Monday, August 19 by the Pleebo Magisterial Court on charges of criminal conspiracy. The court documents claimed that on August 10, 2024, Defendant Choi post alleged on his social media page, claiming that Addy Sieh and Jonah Siryeh were involved in illegal smuggling of coltan without dealer’s license thereby defrauding the government out of it needed tax revenue. The document further claims that the post put the plaintiffs in terrible condition with the government. “The defendant’s action is a violation of Section 14.25 and 27 of the New Penal Code and he is charged with Criminal Conspiracy.” Choi denied the accusations that he posted any information on his social media platform. But he was still ordered detained after he could not secure a criminal appearance bond for his immediate release. Before his arrest and detention, Choi had alleged that Addy Sieh, an accomplice of the man at the center of the illegal mining activity, a Lebanese national only identified as Kamel, is after his life. The Korean then urged the government to investigate the threats against him, particularly in connection to his involvement in exposing illegal mining activities. Choi, the general manager of Koos Liberia Company, which is licensed to engage in coltan business, has been working on a coltan project in collaboration with locals, including offering scholarships and building schools in the area. Choi, in June of this year, reported the illegal coltan mining activities to the Karlokan Magisterial Court in June 2024, detailing incidents of illegal coltan trading he had witnessed. Despite efforts to address these issues, Choi faced challenges with law enforcement and court proceedings, with conflicting accounts leading to further complexity in the legal proceedings. Explaining his ordeal through a mobile phone interview with the Daily Observer from Maryland, Choi alleged that his case was filed before the Karlokan Magisterial Court in June of 2024. He narrated that in May of 2024, while he was in Monrovia trying to renew his license, he was informed that non-license holders with the help of some locals were illegally buying coltan without a valid license. According to him, on June 19, 2024, he was introduced to Samuel Brown, the commander of the Barobo Police Department by the mining agent, Waltee Morris. After hearing the information and seeing the evidence in his office, they were convinced and decided to go to the crime scene accompanied by two mining agents, himself and James Davies, a local. But, no decision was taken thus prompting him to file a complaint to the Karlokan Magisterial Court. They visited the area where the illegal mining activities were taking place—there, he obtained pieces of evidence of Kamel, Addy, and Jonah Siryeh’s illegal transactions. “Officer Brown refused to make any arrest on the grounds that he was protecting the Lebanese Kamel,” Choi said. Thereafter, Choi claimed that he filed a criminal complaint before the Karlokan Magisterial Court against Addy. She was arrested and charged but Brown reportedly released her on bail. “The following day, I went to the court for the case. While seated in the courtroom, I was instead arrested by the court officers for illegally trespassing on the property belonging to the Lebanese Kamel, who does not hold a license,” he noted. “I showed video evidence and witnesses that Kamel, Addy, and Jonah Siryeh were dealing with illegal coltan without dealers’ licenses. “Unfortunately, Addy was released by the court, on a bail, secured by the City solicitor (government lawyer) and the police commander of Barobo township, Samuel Brown,” he said. However, while the case against Addy Sieh was still undecided, on June 21, the Pleebo Magisterial Court arrested Choi based on a complaint filed by Kamel. Choi is released after filing a cash bond. Both cases are pending. The two court cases were confirmed by Walter Morris, the county mining agent. orris, when contacted via phone, confirmed the arrest of defendant Addy Sieh but could not provide detailed information on the basis that the matter was still being adjudicated. Morris explained that on June 19, Choi reported to him about the alleged smuggling of coltan by Addy Sieh, Jonah Siryeh, and Kamel. He later informed Officer Brown of Choi’s complaint. Morris said he, along with Brown and Choi, went to the area, where Choi’s accusations were confirmed. It was based on the confirmation that Choi decided to arrest AddySieh. “Choi got angry and tried to attack Kamel, which led to Kamel filing his suit,” Morris alleged. Moses Derrick, development superintendent of Karluway District, Maryland County, confirmed the incident when the Daily Observer contacted him for comment. “Choi told me everything that happened, but the case cannot go on because the county attorney was replaced,” Derrick said. The Daily Observer also contacted the County Development Superintendent for Karluway District, Moses Derrick, who confirmed the incident. According to Derrick, Choi informed him about the action of Officer Brown and the City solicitor in handling his case against Addy and Kamel. Derrick said the county attorney has assured Choi that he will look into his case very soon.