The Liberia National Police (LNP) launched an investigation into an alleged scholarship scam exploiting the name of Vice President Jeremiah Koung to defraud unsuspecting Liberians seeking educational opportunities, particularly scholarships to study in Canada. The operation unfolded on July 15, 2025, at the Zone-3 Police Station in Congo Town, Monrovia, with the arrest of four individuals, including two women. The suspects were apprehended based on allegations that they were involved in soliciting money from individuals under the false pretense of securing scholarships, leveraging the Vice President’s name to lend credibility to their scheme.
One of the arrested individuals, Obediah Mattar, maintained his innocence, claiming he was merely visiting a friend involved in network marketing at the location where the arrests took place. He denied any knowledge or participation in the alleged scholarship fraud. Police, however, presented a receipt indicating a victim had paid US$1,000 for a purported scholarship, in addition to a previous payment of US$200. Despite this evidence, Mattar continued to deny any involvement in the scam.
Another suspect, identified as Samuel, asserted that he is a legitimate businessman engaged in the online marketing of health and wireless products. He explained that he was at the office to share his business experiences with colleagues and was surprised by the police apprehension. Samuel clarified that his business involves charging US$610 for online business education and certification programs, and not scholarships. While he insisted his business practices were legitimate, the parallels between his program involving financial transactions for educational advancement and the alleged scholarship scam raise suspicion and warrant further investigation.
Adding to the complexity of the case, two women, Princess Kolakeh and Princess M. Gongloe, were also detained. Kolakeh claimed she was arrested while boarding a motorbike and insisted she was involved solely in network marketing of health products, unaware of any fraudulent scholarship activities. Gongloe, on the other hand, admitted to knowing one of the alleged victims, identified as Faith, stating that Faith was a client who purchased US$895 worth of health products, making a partial payment of US$150. Both women denied any involvement in the scholarship scheme, claiming their business dealings were limited to product sales and unrelated to the alleged fraudulent activities.
The investigation takes on a more significant dimension due to the alleged connection with QNet, a multi-level marketing company that has faced numerous accusations of fraudulent practices across West Africa. The company’s history of alleged scams and the subsequent arrests of several of its agents and representatives in the region adds another layer of scrutiny to the current investigation. The alleged involvement of QNet raises questions about whether the scholarship scam is an isolated incident or part of a larger, more organized operation exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking educational opportunities.
The LNP faces the challenge of untangling the complex web of relationships and financial transactions to determine the true nature of the alleged scam and identify those responsible. The investigation must discern whether the individuals arrested were directly involved in the scholarship fraud or if their network marketing activities were inadvertently entangled with the fraudulent scheme. The connection to QNet necessitates a thorough examination of the company’s operations and its potential role in the alleged scam. The police investigation will likely delve into the financial records, communication channels, and business practices of the individuals and QNet to uncover the truth behind the alleged scholarship scam and bring those responsible to justice.
