Ex-Interim President Gyude Bryant's trial

Gyude Bryant, Liberia's former interim president, who is already facing corruption charges, was accused on Saturday of embezzling funds from the national oil company. According to the charge sheet, Bryant and four co-accused are alleged to have stolen $958,000 from Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company between March 2004 and January 2006. All five men have been released on bail, their lawyers said. Bryant was previously charged in February 2007 for allegedly taking one million dollars in bribes when he was interim president from October 2003 to January 2006, when Liberia was emerging from 14 years of civil war. Long suspended, his trial was resumed after the supreme court ruled that Bryant - who has denied the allegation - was ineligible for immunity as a former head of state, as he had been appointed under the Accra peace accord rather than the constitution. somalianet.com