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Claim: Togar Alexander Bealded, a controversial Liberian social media user, alleged on Facebook that the Pro tempore of the Liberian Senate Nyonblee Karnga-Lwarence has imported a 2025 Hyundai Staria at over $100k.
Verdict: Misleading! DUBAWA’s investigation shows that while it is true that she bought the said vehicle, findings from Africa Motors reveal that it cost USD$45K before duty and USD$51K with Duty paid.
Full Text
Budget overspending by public officials in Liberia is a primary concern, especially when the country has to contend daily with many challenges, including poor healthcare, inadequate school facilities, and bad road conditions. With the Legislature being the branch of government responsible for making laws and exercising oversight on the executive and other public agencies, the populace pays keen attention to their work. These lawmakers majorly have to represent the interests of their various constituents properly.
Another issue of concern is corruption, which is strongly considered an enemy of the “RESCUE’ government. Rescue is a jargon crafted and used by the government since its campaign period for 2023. The name came about when the Unity Party then opposition labelled the former President George Weah’s Administration as a failed government, claiming itself (Unity Party) as the messiah that had come to rescue the suffering population. Former Commerce Minister Amin Modad was pressured to resign in October 2024 after he purchased a vehicle costing USD$96k during his few months in office as Minister of Commerce.
However, on January 21, 2025, a Facebook user, Togar Alexander Bealded, alleged that the Senate Pro Tempore had purchased a vehicle costing more than USD$100k. Bealded claimed that the vehicle’s model is the Hyundai Staria 2025. He stressed that in a country like Liberia, where children still struggle to acquire quality education and inadequate healthcare, the Protem officer has wasted taxpayers’ money.
“ProTem brings in the Hyundai Staria 2025 model, which is over USD 100K, probably electric in a poor Liberia. Imagine her county has no electricity and public schools and lacks chalks, teachers, and innovation. The only college in the county has no bridge to get there and no bus to transport students. Women and fathers have no jobs to send their kids to school, and overall, Liberia is a disaster, but here you are riding such a vehicle above the threshold of what the government says officials should use. Amin Modad was pressured to resign for getting a car beyond the same threshold, but again, the Pro tem ain’t care. Aye, mehn, why do these folks treat the country and our people like this? Equipped with futuristic,” he wrote.
The post sparked mixed reactions on Facebook and has become a public discussion point.
The claim generated 77 reactions, 177 comments, and 51 shares. Some users aligned with the claimant, while others defaulted on the allegation. The mixed reactions amongst the public led DUBAWA to initiate a fact-check.
Verification
DUBAWA first reached out to find out the model of the vehicle and its price. The Communication Officer in the offices of Protem Lawrence, Henry Karmo, confirmed to the researcher that the car is a Hyundai Staria 3.5L 2025 model, adding that the vehicle cost USD45k, but the Pro tempore negotiated the price down to USD$43k.
According to Henry Karmo, Africa Motor lent the vehicle to Senator Lawrence on an installmental basis since the government didn’t provide her with an official car since she came into office.
“The car was borrowed from Africa Motors for a cost of USD$43k. The agreement was that she would pay in instalments. The government is yet to provide her official vehicle,” Karmo said.
In further verification, DUBAWA visited the Africa Motors office on 18th Street Monrovia to inquire about the price of the Hyundai Staria 3.5L 2025 model. The prices start at USD$45K for a duty-free Hyundai Staria 3.5L and USD$51k with duty.
Image of the prices below
A duty-free vehicle can be imported without paying customs duties or other taxes, and a duty-paid vehicle requires payment of customs duties or import tax upon entry into the country.
DUBAWA again checked on the Hyundai website and found the cost of a similar vehicle selling between $53,890-$73,604
Conclusion
According to DUBAWA’s findings, the Pro Tempore officer purchased a new vehicle, but not at a cost of USD100k. Checks indicate that the vehicle costs between USD$45k and USD$51k.
