China Mall Liberia fires 5 contractors for theft

 Five Liberian contractors, predominantly females, accused of theft have been dismissed and turned over to Police for investigation, but protestors say their rights have been abused. 

By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh 

Paynesville, Liberia, May 23, 2025 – Much Better Trading Incorporated (China Mall Liberia) at Golden Gate, near the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville, has fired and detained at least five contractors over allegations of theft.

The contractors, including Matherline Domilah, Cashier; Jackerlyne Wreh, Chef Attendance, are among five suspects currently detained  at Zone 8, Police Station near the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville.

Mamie Sheriff and Cecelia Toweh were forced to resign their positions on Thursday as a result of the allegation of stealing.

Dozens of social-justice activists Thursday, May 22, 2025, rampaged the China Mall Liberia premises in Paynesville, demanding Justice for unlawful detention and rights violations of the suspects.

They drew the attention of Liberian authorities, including the Ministry of Labor, the Liberia National Police, Zone-8 detachment, and Civil Society group.

“China Mall Liberia has persistently violated the Labor laws of our nation, engaging in unlawful suspension of employees, illegal contract terminations, and exploitative labor practices”, Cyrus Kennedy, a social-justice activist notes.

Kennedy explains that the three young female contractors were wrongfully imprisoned, over claims of theft, as a means of downsizing them, to cover-up illegal termination of their contracts, and bad labor practices.

“China Mall has been manhandling Liberian workers, sexually abusing females, and the most recent and heartbreaking case involves the unjust imprisonment, which occurred six months ago”, he alleges.

According to him, China Mall Liberia allegedly coerced the Police to extract confessions from the suspects, while detaining them without evidence.

“This is a blatant violation of their human rights, and outrageous abuse of power”, some protesters lament.

But China Mall Liberia General Manager, Nyema Klon Bruce, denies that the suspects are wrongfully detained.

According to Bruce, they were caught right-handed, with CCTV footage evidence seen by the Liberia National Police, Ministry of Labor and other authorities.

He details that such action of theft by the female workers violates the company’s policy, so the law should take its course.

“Basically, we found a syndicate of thieves, who are in the habit of stealing company goods and carrying it away and we got pictorial evidence of videos with sign of these people committing these acts, and as a responsible management, we made it our duty to carry on due diligence through CCTV footage. After reviewing and management policies [say] any form of theft is immediate dismissal”, he explains.

A copy of the contractors’ termination letter obtained by the NEW DAWN states that Much Better Trading Company Inc. (China Mall Liberia) effectively terminated the contracts of these employees due to gross misconduct.

According to the letter, the contractors were caught right-handed stealing company goods from the shelf, an act that constitutes a serious breach of trust and a violation of company policy as outlined in the employee handbook. Editing by Jonathan Browne