What institution(s) has the power to impose non-criminal sanctions for campaign finance infractions?

Liberia

Liberia

Answer
EMB (highest level)
Source

Campaign Finance Regulations for Political Parties and Candidates (2011)

SECTION 1. CITATION AND APPLICATION

[…]

(2) These regulations apply to  2011 elections for President, the Senate andthe House of Representatives

 

SECTION 19. CAMPAIGN FINANCE INFRACTIONS

(1) Any violation of the provisions of theseregulations, and any violation of the expense limitations provided for by law,shall be considered a “campaign finance infraction.”

(2) The Commission shall investigate all campaignfinance infractions that come to its attention via complaint, audit orotherwise.

(3) After a public hearing where the allegedoffender has been given an opportunity to be heard, the Commission may imposeadministrative sanctions for such infractions as specified in section 2.9 (w)of the New Elections Law 1986, as amended by the Electoral Reform Law, 2004.

[…]

 

SECTION 20. CAMPAIGN FINANCE OFFENSES

(1) Any violation of the provisions of theseregulations, and any violation of the expense limitations provided for by law,that involves the making, receiving or reporting of contributions or expensestotalling US$5,000.00 (or its equivalent in Liberian Dollars) or more, andwhich the Commission finds was committed knowingly and wilfully, shall beconsidered an “election offense,” shall be subject to the penalties specifiedin sections 2.9(x) and 10.7 of the New Elections Law 1986, as amended by the2004 Electoral Reform Law, or the criminal penalties provided for by law for“election offenses.”

(2) Failure to submit all forms and accounts asspecified in Section 14 shall constitute an election offense. Violations shallbe subject to a fine and/or the withholding of certificate to take seat untilthe requirement is fulfilled.

(3) The Commission may report violations itdetermines to constitute “election offenses” to the Ministry of Justice forenforcement or prosecution as the case may be.

 

Electoral Law, 2011

http://www.necliberia.org/admin/pg_img/Election%20Law%20Incorporated%202011final.pdf

 

2.9:  Powerand Duties

[…]

(w)  To issuecitation for the appearance before it of any political party or its leaders, orother natural persons in connection with any complaint cognizably before it; toissue subpoenas for the purpose of obtaining witnesses in any hearing,including subpoenas ad testificandum and subpoenas ducestecum; to punish for contemptfor any obstruction or disobedience of its orders in an amount not less thanthe Liberian dollar equivalent of two thousand five hundred US dollars(US$2,500), nor more than the Liberian dollar equivalent of fifty thousand USdollars (US$50,000) in the case of a political party, alliance or coalition, orin an amount of no more than the Liberian dollar equivalent of five hundred USdollars in the case of a natural person (amended in 2004). 

Comment

Campaign financeinfractions also entail criminal sanctions. Please refer to Part 4 of thedatabase. 

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