MONROVIA-The Resident Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Bassa County has released 24 pre-trial detainees who had been held in prison without trial for extended periods.
The release took place on Monday, Nov.11, 2024, coinciding with the official opening of the October term of court in Upper Buchanan.
Judge Joe S. Barkon conducted a thorough review of the prison’s detainee list and discovered that some individuals had been incarcerated for as long as two years without facing trial.
This action aligns with Section 18.2 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedural Law, which mandates timely trials for detainees.
The detainees released were facing a range of serious charges, including manslaughter, attempted murder, statutory rape, robbery, unlicensed possession of drugs, theft of property, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and burglary.
The breakdown of the detainees includes 13 individuals sent by the St. John Magisterial Court, four by the Buchanan Magisterial Court, two by the Owensgrove Magisterial Court, and five by the Second Judicial Circuit Court.
The released individuals are: Garnayee Peter, Flomo Kollie, Hillia Karr, Prince Wilson, Rogee Wheigar, Momo Carter, Samuel Smith, Joshua Brown, Samuel Nimely, Josephine D. Coleman, Prince Jacob, Prince Wrueh, Abraham James, Godgift Reeves, David Port, Janjay Tarr, Edwin Colomon, Matthew Mench, Mohammed Tabiel, Junkle J. Joe, Issac Barry, Lawrence Debeah, Jeremiah Karmo, and Garsay Flokan Teekpor.
In a commitment to ensuring justice, Judge Barkon has vowed to regularly inspect the prison compound.
Grand Bassa County Attorney Paul Jarvan has also pledged to collaborate with Judge Barkon to facilitate the release of individuals who have been unjustly detained beyond the statutory period.
