VOA常速英语2007年-Former Liberian Leader Faces Corruption Charges

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
10 December 2007

Liberia's former transitional leader, Gyude Bryant, has appeared in court, after being arrested for missing earlier appearances in his continuing embezzlement¹ trial. The court has given him until Friday to find a new lawyer. Naomi Schwarz has the story from VOA's West and Central Africa bureau in Dakar.

Mr. Bryant went before the judge on Monday morning with no lawyer. After being put in jail over his refusal to appear in court last week, Mr. Bryant now says he is ready to participate in his trial.

He says he is preparing his defense².

"I am beginning now, I am entering a lot of consultations³. Let us wait and see what happens on Friday," he said.

Mr. Bryant was charged in February with embezzling⁴ more than $1 million during his short time in office. He was the chairman of Liberia's transitional government for just over two years following the end of Liberia's civil war in 2003.

This week's court proceedings⁵ continue his trial, which began in March.

Speaking via cell phone after his court appearance, Mr. Bryant told VOA he is innocent.

"The charges are bogus. They are unfounded, absolutely," he said. "I mean, I headed the government. I would want to sabotage⁶ the government that I head? Does that make sense? And if I had sabotaged⁷ it, then how come we disarmed⁸ so many combatants, we had elections, the displaced people were resettled, and all of that. I mean, does it make sense?"

Mr. Bryant was charged after an audit⁹ by the Economic Community of West African States reported widespread graft¹⁰ during his term in office. He told VOA he is confident the trial will clear him of all charges.

Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has said fighting corruption¹¹ is a top priority of her administration.

Information Minister Laurence Konmla Bropleh says Mr. Bryant's trial will show past, current and future leaders they will face consequences for any misconduct.

"It will also set the stage for those who are yet to come to serve the public not to do what is not right by the people, especially abusing the public's trust," said Bropleh.

David Targbe, a radio talk-show host in the capital, Monrovia, says Liberians are pleased to see a former leader being held accountable, after initial doubts over the validity of the case.

"The issue of the culture of impunity¹² has been in the country for a long time, so Liberians are very happy that a former leader who has been charged with corruption is being prosecuted," said Targbe. "And their only concern is that that should continue and that should not stop with the Bryant issue. That should cover all those who are linked to corruption."

Anti-corruption activists¹³ in Liberia warn work still remains¹⁴ to end corruption under the current government.

1 embezzlement   

n.盗用，贪污

参考例句：

• He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
• The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 embezzling   

v.贪污，盗用（公款）( embezzle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Accordingly, object embezzling waste to be carried temporarily the schedule of administration. 因此，反对贪污浪费就提上了临时中央政府的议事日程。 来自互联网
• Some were sentenced for taking bribes, others executed for embezzling funds. 有的因受贿而被判刑，有的因侵吞公款而被判处死刑。 来自互联网

5 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

6 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

7 sabotaged   

阴谋破坏（某事物）( sabotage的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The main pipeline supplying water was sabotaged by rebels. 供水主管道被叛乱分子蓄意破坏了。
• They had no competition because competitors found their trucks burned and sabotaged. 他们之所以没有竞争对象，那是因为竞争对象老是发现自己的卡车遭火烧或被破坏。 来自教父部分

8 disarmed   

v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
• The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械，并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

10 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

11 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

12 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

13 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。