Foreign Fugitive on The Run From Justice In Liberia -French National Wanted in Liberian courts for Forgery, Criminal Coercion, Defamation and Action of Debt

MONROVIA – The Liberian investment climate continues to attract foreign investors of all shades and kind to exploit the natural resources of this country, in many cases, without any benefit to the local citizens who own the land. One of such investors is Bertrand Franquet, a French National, and CEO of  Swiss Metal Trust Commodity, a Liberian-registered company, who came to Liberia and entered in into gold mining agreement with the Elders and Town Chiefs of Gmainbo Chiefdom in Rivergee County for the lease of community land for mining purposes.

In the Agreement, a copy of which is the possession of this paper, Bertrand’s Swiss Metal Trust Commodity promised to pay a monthly land rental fee of US$1,000.00 (One Thousand United States Dollars), along with 6% of the Monthly production. Bertrand’s Swiss Metal Trust Commodity also promised to build schools, roads and clinics for the community, in exchange for their gold.

However, after more than nine (9) months of mining operation and destruction of community forest and land, Bertrand’s Swiss Metal Trust Commodity absconded the community overnight, without paying a dime to the local people, and did not construct any road, school or clinic, as promised. Community leaders speaking to this paper narrated that Bertrand’s Swiss Metal Trust Commodity mined over 5, 000 grams of fine gold, but Bertrand’s Swiss Metal Trust Commodity’s lawyers, in their filings before the Debt Court in Montserrado County, copies of which are in the possession of this court, admitted that only 817 grams of gold were mined, and their failure to compensate the community was due to the low volume of gold. Community leaders argued that their agreement with Bertrand’s Swiss Metal Trust Commodity contained no conditional payment.

Strange on the written Agreement between Bertrand’s Swiss Metal Trust Commodity and the Chief’s and Elders Gmainbo Chiefdom in Rivergee County was the name and signature of Liberia’s Sports Ambassador for Youth Development, Alioune Kebe, obligating him as a partner. Documents in our possession show that Kebe is not a partner of Swiss Metal Trust Commodity, but rather an attorney-in-fact for Bertrand. Local community sources who witnessed the signing of the agreement in Rivergee County told this paper that Kebe was not present and did not participate in the signing ceremonies, even though his name was on the agreement. And that during the ceremonies Bertrand signed for himself, and took turn to sign for Kebe, as a party to the agreement. Kebe therefore sued Bertrand for Forgery.

In his criminal complaint against Bertrand Franquet for Forgery and Criminal Coercion before the Monrovia City Court, filed on September 1, 2025, the Writ of Arrest of which copy is in the possession of this paper,  Allioune Kebe accused Bertrand of forging his name and signature on the agreement with the elders and chief, without his knowledge and consent. Bertrand Franquet was arrested by the Monrovia City Court, and his first appearance at the Court on September 19, 2025, with his wife who accompanied him.  According to court records in our possession, Bertrand’s lawyers, led by a team of Liberian lawyers, including Cllr. Arthur Johnson moved the court to dismiss the action against Bertrand; however the court denied Bertrand’s motion and ordered the case proceeded with. Bertrand was released on temporary bail to reappear at the next hearing of the case.

Source told this paper that Bertrand and his wife hurriedly fled Liberia at 4am during the early morning of September 20th on board an international flight and headed for Morocco from where he reportedly landed in France, and has since never appeared in Liberian court despite several assignments. Kebe’s lawyers, led by state prosecutor Cllr. Joseph Sammy filed a Bill of Information, a copy of which is in the possession of this paper, informing the Monrovia City Court that defendant Bertrand Franquet has absconded and fled Liberia, to avoid facing justice.

The escape of Bertrand came in the wake of three lawsuits pending against him in Liberian courts. On September 10, 2025, the Elders and Town Chiefs of Gmainbo Chiefdom filed an action of debt against Bertrand and Swiss Mental in the Debt Court in Montserrado County, and Bertrand was personally served the Writ of Summons. The Community obtained a summary judgment judgement on November, 5, 2025, ordering Bertrand’s Swiss metal to pay over US$15,000 to the local community. With Bertrand’s escape from Liberia, it is unknown how the local community will get justice for their money owed. To date, the court is yet to enforce the judgement against Bertrand.

On August 28, 2025, Allioune Kebe sued Bertrand Franquet in a US$5 million damages lawsuit for defamation due to a story that appeared in the Verity Newspaper, and quoting Bertrand, in which Bertrand accused Kebe of misappropriating US480k entrusted to him. In his complaint before the civil law court in Montserrado, copy of which is in our possession, Kebe dismissed the accusations as baseline, false and malicious, only spread by his enemies for political gains.

In Count Two (2) of his answer to Kebe’s complaint, Bertrand denied through his lawyers that “defendant denies communicating false statement particularly to Verity News about Plaintiff” (Kebe). Verity News is owned and operated by online Liberian activist Martin Kollie. Bertrand further informed the court that at some point he and his partners were approached by a journalist from Verity News for an interview concerning his relationship with Kebe, but he declined the offer. With Bertrand’s denial, it is unclear where Verity News got the story from.