In a significant victory for press freedom, the Yarpah Town Magisterial Court in Rivercess County has agreed to drop the “criminal contempt of court” charge against Liberian journalists Eric Opa Doue and Methuselah Gaye. This decision comes after legal representation and concerted advocacy efforts by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
The court’s decision was delivered by Magistrate Debah Zuku Debah on August 20, 2025, after a compelling pleading by Attorney Bruce Boweh, who was appointed by the PUL to safeguard the interests of the journalists.
While the criminal contempt charges were agreed to be dropped, the Magistrate has imposed the minimum fine of fifty United States Dollars on each of the journalists and has required them to submit a formal written apology to the Court, along with a retraction of their allegations of court bribery disseminated through their media outlets.
The successful representation by Attorney Boweh marks an important triumph, safeguarding the rights of Doue and Gaye from ongoing harassment, intimidation, and threats that sought to undermine their journalistic freedom.
PUL President Julius Kanubah expressed relief at the Magisterial court’s decision, emphasizing the importance of the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom and Liberia’s commitment to the Declaration of Table Mountain.
Attorney Boweh, who traveled to Rivercess on August 19, stated before the Court that while the journalists’ reports contained factual inaccuracies, these were not intended to detract from the Court’s integrity; rather, they aimed to inform the public on a critical issue.
Prior to his involvement, Attorney Boweh affirmed his commitment to the PUL and the Court to disclose any substantiated evidence of bribery, and should there be none, to advocate for the dismissal of the criminal contempt charge by acknowledging the shortcomings in the journalists’ report.
Following a thorough assessment, Attorney Boweh concluded that the journalists lacked credible evidence to support their claims of bribery against the Court, having relied instead on unnamed informants and conjecture.
This finding was consistent with the PUL’s earlier evaluations and the journalists’ own admission of their inaccuracies, which they have publicly acknowledged and apologized for—a practice deemed acceptable in both journalistic ethics and legal proceedings.
Background:
Eric Opa Doue was apprehended by court marshals on August 13, 2025, at the behest of Associate Magistrate Debah Zuku Debah. After a release, he was instructed to appear before the court on August 18, 2025, but attended without legal representation. The Magistrate subsequently mandated his reappearance with legal counsel by August 20, 2025, to avoid the risk of re-arrest.
In the second case of criminal coercion, Methuselah Gaye was detained on August 14, 2025, following a complaint lodged by police officer Ojuku Weeks, who is acting as a private prosecutor. Officer Weeks alleged that the journalists had made “false allegations” implicating him in narcotics-related offenses and bribery.
Both journalists spent a night in custody, later released upon meeting stringent bail conditions: Gaye paid a cash bond of 60,000 Liberian dollars or US$300, while Doue was released after paying 2,000 Liberian dollars or US$10, with support from community figures in Rivercess County.
The PUL condemned the arrests as part of what appears to be a coordinated effort to stifle journalistic expression in Rivercess County, raising concerns over the refusal of Public Defender Abraham Nyounway to provide legal representation to the journalists.
Pending before the Cestos City Magisterial Court is a case of criminal coercion against the journalists, overseen by Associate Magistrate Dixon Yeahgar. The PUL will collaborate with journalists Doue and Gaye, along with Attorney Boweh, to seek a just and amicable resolution in the days ahead.
