Judge Dixon’s order, given on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, requires the government to submit the evidence to the defense legal counsels.
The Judge of Criminal Court ‘C’, A. Blamo Dixon, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Government of Liberia, demanding that it provides all evidence related to the prosecution of several former high-ranking officials in the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration.
By Victoria G. Wesseh
These officials are currently facing charges of widespread corruption.
Judge Dixon’s order, given on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, requires the government to submit the evidence to the defense legal counsels.
The goal is to allow the defense counsel’s sufficient time to prepare their case.
In his Wednesday ruling, Judge Dixon highlighted the importance of transparency in the legal process and cited Article 21, Section D1 of the Constitution of Liberia, which states that all accused individuals should be granted bail under reasonable conditions, unless charged with capital offenses or serious crimes.
The judge also emphasized that no excessive bail, fines, or punishment should be imposed on the defendants facing trial in keeping with the laws.
The case involves charges against Samuel Tweah, ex-Finance Minister, Tuahn, former Acting Minister of Justice, Stanley Ford, former Director General of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and D. Moses P. Cooper, former FIA Comptroller.
The accused are alleged to have conspired to commit economic sabotage, fraud, misuse of public funds, and illegal disbursement of public money.
According to court documents, between September 8-21, 2023, several transfers were made from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to the FIA’s operational accounts, totaling L$1.055 billion and US$500,000.
These transactions, which were submitted to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for investigation, are at the center of the ongoing corruption trial.
Judge Dixon’s directive is in keeping with the criminal procedure law of Liberia.
Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Endorses Surety Bond for Ex-Finance Minister Tweah and Co-Defendants
However, Judge Dixon Wednesday endorsed the surety bond for Tweah and several others, following a contentious legal debate between defense and government lawyers.
Judge Dixon’s endorsement of the bond followed a heated legal debate between the defense counsels, led by Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson and government prosecutors, led by Montserrado County Attorney Richard J. Scott, Jr.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Cllr. Scott argued that the surety bond filed by the defense legal team is not fit to meet the test of time as the property in question is not tax compliant consistent with the Liberia Revenue Code.
The Montserrado County Attorney quizzed the owner of the property that was used as a surety bond as it relates to the validity of the bond.
Cllr. Scott further argued that the property owner used one identification number for two properties and that the record from the LRA shows that the property in question is not recognized by the LRA.
He further requested the court to subpoena the Director General of the Liberia Revenue Authority or his proxy to testify to the value of the surety bond but the judge denied said application by the prosecution.
It can be recalled, Judge Dixon initially scheduled the hearing for Thursday, November 14, 2024 to address the government’s objection to Tweah’s US$8 million criminal appearance bond.
Judge Dixon’s ruling relied on Chapters 63.6, 63.2 of the Civil Procedure Law of Liberia and Chapter 13.13 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.
He further cited Article 21 (d1& d2) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, which expressly grants the defendant in a criminal proceeding to a bail bond thereby endorsing the 8 million criminal appearing bond of ex-finance minister Tweah and others.
Meanwhile, Tweah and co-defendants are now prevented from going to jail pending the case trial.
