Sandy: Politician’s Ramadan message a deflection

US-based Liberian journalist Moses D. Sandy

A recent call by Liberian presidential hopeful Dr. Daniel Cassell for the global Muslim community to pray for Liberians during Ramadan is a ploy to deflect US felony charges he faces, a US-based Liberian journalist has averred.

Journalist Moses D. Sandy said Dr. Cassell and the People Liberation Party (PLP) he heads are being dismissive of the seriousness of the charges against him and his New Jersey-based entity, Kwenyan Professional Health Services (KPHS).

The PLP leader and the management of KPHS, a mental health, behavioral and substance abuse agency he founded, are charged with defrauding the US Medicaid program of more than $3.6m for services they claimed to have provided clients in New Jersey.

The agency allegedly billed clients multiple times for questionable services it claimed to have provided them.

On April 3, Dr. Cassell in a social media podcast claimed that the Liberian people need prayers because, “The safety, economic, and living conditions of Liberians are worsening day by day; and majority of Liberians have given up hope due to the reality of the appalling leadership situation in Liberia”.

However, in a press release issued on April 10, Mr. Sandy, national president emeritus of the Association Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA), said while the PLP leader’s message to the Muslim community seems plausible, he and the PLP’s foremost intent is to deceive Liberians and minimize the veracity of the crimes he and the KPHS are accused of.

He said it is hypocritical for Dr. Cassell to publicly censure the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) for reported misrule in Liberia while at the same time concealing the alleged fraud.

He said until the US government exonerates Dr. Cassell and his agency of the felony charges, he for now remains unqualified to attack the CDC for any act of bad governance in Liberia.

Mr. Sandy said Dr. Cassell has lost the moral integrity for championing the cause of social justice and issues of morality in Liberia.

Dr. Cassell, labelled a fugitive, was picked up last month at the Atlanta Airport in Georgia after he arrived in the US from Liberia where he lived for several months.

According to news reports, he was later extradited to New Jersey for prosecution. He is reportedly out of prison on bail.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sandy said if Dr. Cassell is to be seen as a serious political contender for the Liberian presidency, he must speak to Liberians and the people of the world about the charges he and KPHS are facing.

The journalist noted that Liberians and the world at large are eager to know about the status of the reported duping of US taxpayers and the role Dr. Cassell played it.

He said the Liberian presidency is a very important position and Liberians are not prepared to support any politician with a reported shady past.

He said he is not prejudging Dr. Cassell and the other accused.

Mr. Sandy believes that the PLP leader now should focus on clearing his name, and that of his agency, than dwelling on the lapses of President George Weah and the ruling CDC.

Mr. Sandy added that “Unless otherwise proven, Dr. Cassell has crumbled and his political career seems to have come to an abrupt end.”

Before his recent arrest and public humiliation, the PLP leader was one of the notable humanitarians and biggest donors to community organizations and the poor in Liberia.