MONROVIA – Peach Bility, son of Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Bility, has pleaded guilty to drug-related offenses before Criminal Court C after initially pleading not guilty. The case involves the unlicensed possession and sale of controlled substances at the Miami Beach Coconut Plantation in Mamba Point.
During proceedings presided over by Judge Joe Barkon, the jury was disbanded following Bility’s guilty plea. The court ordered a probation report to be submitted within five days ahead of his sentencing. Under a plea agreement with the Ministry of Justice, other charges in the indictment against Bility are expected to be dropped.
Bility faces a potential prison sentence ranging from a minimum of five years to a maximum of twenty years for the offenses. The case has attracted considerable public attention given Bility’s familial connection to the Nimba County legislator.
Earlier developments in the case saw Supreme Court Chambers Justice Ceaineh Clinton-Johnson order Bility’s immediate release from the Monrovia Central Prison. This came after his legal counsel filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, challenging a prior decision by Resident Circuit Judge A. Blamo Dixon to revoke Bility’s bond without cause.
Peach Bility was originally arrested on March 24, 2024, by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) on multiple charges including unlicensed possession and transportation of controlled substances. He remained in detention from the date of his arrest until November 15, 2024, when he was granted bail through a Criminal Appearance Insurance Bond approved by Judge Dixon.
The decision to release Bility sparked controversy. Green Media Campaigners, a media and civil society advocacy group, publicly called for his immediate re-arrest, citing concerns over his release despite facing serious drug and firearm charges considered non-bailable.
The plea deal now paves the way for Bility’s sentencing, as the Ministry of Justice prepares to proceed based on his admission of guilt and the terms negotiated. The case underscores ongoing challenges in Liberia’s fight against drug trafficking and enforcement of related laws, particularly when individuals connected to influential figures are involved.
Judge Barkon’s directive for a probation report indicates the court’s intention to consider a measured sentence within the prescribed legal framework. The outcome of the sentencing will be closely watched by both the public and law enforcement agencies as a potential precedent for future cases involving controlled substances in Liberia.
