Bong County District #3 Representative Josiah Marvin Cole, has been accused of stealing over 150, 000 gas slips or it equivalent amount belonging to members of the House of Representatives (HoR).
According to the Committee’s report, which was presented on Thursday, July 3, to the plenary of the House by the current Rule and Order Chair, James Kolleh, it maintained that former Chairperson of Rule and Order, and under the administration of former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, Rep. Cole. took from Petro Trade first 80, 000; 30, 000 and 50,000; 10,000, amounting to 150,000 gas slips as captured by the report.
The allegation, which was made against Rep. Cole during the Lower House’s opening plenary session by Rep. Kolleh of the House Statutory Committee on Rule, order and Administration, which prompted Plenary to institute a specialized committee to probe the matter, and report to Plenary for further action.
Following the investigation, according to Rep. Kolleh, the Committee reported to Plenary claimed Rep. Cole during his tenure, allegedly took the 150K gas slips from Petro Trade on behalf of his colleagues, but none of them receive at least I slip; including the Central Administration and personal staff, who also did not receive any slip from Rep. Cole as he claimed in his report.
Rep. Kolleh further explained that the Committee also recommended to the Plenary that Rep. Cole should restitute the 150K gas slips he stole from his colleagues, and that it should be deducted on a monthly basis, where he will not be given gas slips for a period of four years for allegedly stealing his colleagues’ gas slips.
The Kolleh’s decision was indorsed by the Plenary, stating: It is based on this that Rep. Cole will be banned from receiving gas slips to serve as deterrent to those would be perpetrators.