The Ministry says that the vehicle in question is a Range Rover MFD Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) bearing vehicle identification number SAVLN2BG7DH839138 that was presented to the Ministry of Transport for registration on May 9, 2016 as evidenced by vehicle applicant billing form signed by one Mr. Tonia Tisdell as owner with Mr. Marcus S. Saah as expeditor.

The Ministry stated in a release issued Thursday, that the vehicle was billed on the same date and that payment into the government revenue account was made on May 10, 2016 as evidenced by revenue receipt number 8103173 in the amount of US$240 in the name of Tisdell.

The release, however, stated that Notary certificate to a hand-to-hand bill of sale showing the sale of the same vehicle by Mr. Saidou Sangary to Tisdell, dated May 10, 2016, one day after the document was presented for billing notarized by Montserrado County Notary Public Abraham W. Nifor.

This according to the MOT was part of several inconsistencies discovered after the vehicles documents were referred to higher authority of the MOT for review.

As part of the inconsistencies, the MOT noted the absence of any title document showing ownership of the vehicle in the United States of America from where the vehicle was exported in the name of Lloyd Smith as evidenced by the import documents.

It stated that the vehicle also did not have the mandatory third party liability insurance from one of the 19 insurance companies recognized by the Central Bank of Liberia and the Ministry of Transport as qualified to participate in the minimum liability scheme of the Government which is a precondition to vehicle registration.

MOT said that it also observed that the vehicle in question was not being sold by an authorized dealer since all authorized dealers had to have an eligibility certificate issued by the MOT.

According to the MOT, the license plate HOR 32 is no longer legitimate and that the plate was replaced since January 1, 2015 with the new license plate regime currently in use.

The MOT has, meanwhile, stated that the Ministry’s investigation was ongoing at the time that the vehicle in question was arrested by the Liberia National Police and that the Ministry is working along with the police to resolve the matter.
LINA PR/WSG/PTK