09/08/2026
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE CLARIFIES CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING OFFICER JACKSON K. KOLAKO
Monrovia, Liberia, August 9, 2026: The Ministry of Justice has taken note of a public statement issued by Officer Jackson K. Kolako, Deputy Superintendent for Operations at the Monrovia Central Prison, concerning his arrest on August 1, 2026, and his subsequent stand-down from duty.
The Ministry does not intend to engage in a public exchange with Officer Kolako while an active national security investigation is ongoing.
However, because his statement attributes certain decisions to specific individuals and presents an incomplete account of the circumstances surrounding the incident, the Ministry considers it necessary to clarify the record.
The investigation in question is being conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA) in connection with an ongoing transnational drug investigation.
Atty. Siafa Bahn Kemokai did not independently initiate the investigation or make a personal decision to have Officer Kolako arrested. The directive for Officer Kolako’s arrest was issued by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General following information received during the course of the NSA investigation. Mr. Kemokai acted in implementation of that directive.
On August 1, 2026, NSA personnel went to the Monrovia Central Prison to interview an inmate in furtherance of the investigation.
Information subsequently made available to the Ministry indicated that Officer Kolako had interacted with the inmate prior to the attempted interview. When investigators sought to speak with the inmate, the inmate initially declined to cooperate. Following Officer Kolako’s removal from the facility, the inmate later spoke with investigators and reported that he had felt intimidated by Officer Kolako.
The NSA also received intelligence concerning alleged interactions between Officer Kolako and an individual outside the prison, including information relating to money allegedly being provided to him through that person. These matters have not been presented by the Ministry as established facts; rather, they are among the issues the NSA is currently investigating and seeking to verify.
It was against this background, including concerns that an active investigation may have been obstructed or compromised, that Officer Kolako was removed from the facility and subsequently placed on stand-down.
The stand-down order dated August 3, 2026, expressly states that the measure is pending the outcome of an investigation. It is therefore not a finding of guilt or a final disciplinary action.
Officer Kolako has served within the corrections system for approximately twelve years and would be well aware that security and intelligence operations are necessarily governed by the principle of need-to-know. An officer’s position within a facility does not automatically entitle that officer to advance notice of, or access to, every intelligence operation being conducted within that facility, particularly where disclosure could compromise an investigation.
The Ministry of Justice therefore rejects any suggestion that the action taken against Officer Kolako was personal, arbitrary, or undertaken at the instance of Mr. Kemokai. The actions taken were connected to an ongoing investigation involving the NSA and were authorized at the appropriate level within the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry has deliberately refrained from publicly discussing the details of the investigation because it remains active. Officer Kolako’s public statement does not alter that position. The NSA must be allowed to complete its work and determine whether the intelligence and allegations under review can be substantiated.
If Officer Kolako possesses specific information or evidence relevant to the investigation, including the matters raised in his public statement, he is encouraged to submit that information to the appropriate authorities. It will be considered as part of the investigative process.
The Ministry emphasizes that investigations involving transnational drug trafficking are serious national security matters. No officer, irrespective of rank, assignment, tenure, or position, may interfere with, obstruct, or compromise a lawful investigation.
At the same time, no officer will be adjudged guilty merely because an allegation has been made.
Officer Kolako will therefore remain on stand-down while the NSA conducts its investigation.
Upon conclusion of the investigation, the findings will determine the appropriate course of action in accordance with the law and applicable administrative procedures.
The Ministry remains committed to protecting the integrity of the ongoing drug investigation and will not permit public accusations, personalities, or speculation to interfere with that process.
