MONROVIA – Senator Augustine Chea of Sinoe County has issued a strong critique of the current handling of legal proceedings involving former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and other lawmakers, questioning whether the government is genuinely pursuing justice or using the justice system to settle political scores. In a detailed public statement, Senator Chea expressed alarm over what he described as deliberate efforts to embarrass and detain opposition figures, rather than adhering to the principles of due process and equal justice under the law.
Senator Chea questioned the rationale behind the Liberia National Police’s decision to summon the accused to its headquarters at 9 a.m. only to delay their arrest and charging until late in the evening, ensuring that the courts were closed and bail could not be secured. He suggested that the strategy was aimed at publicly humiliating the accused through unnecessary detention. The senator argued that such tactics raise serious doubts about the impartiality of the justice system, especially since the investigation into the Capitol fire incident had already been concluded and the accused had been cooperative throughout.
The senator further criticized what he sees as a double standard in the application of justice. He pointed out that Representative Priscilla Cooper, a member of the ruling Unity Party Alliance, was reportedly granted bail for medical reasons, while Representative Abu Kamara of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change was denied similar consideration despite claims of illness. Senator Chea alleged that Cooper’s inclusion among the accused was a political maneuver to create a false impression of impartiality, predicting that her charges might eventually be dropped or that she may be used as a state witness.
Citing the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Roosevelt Demann v. Republic, Senator Chea reminded authorities that Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees equal rights to all accused persons, regardless of political affiliation or the nature of the crime. He argued that the current handling of the case violates this principle and risks undermining the credibility of the entire process.
Senator Chea drew historical parallels, warning that the justice system under Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and Police Director Gregory Coleman mirrors the repression seen in the 1980s under notorious figures like Jenkins Scott and Wilfred Clarke. He emphasized that accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty and called for a judicial process grounded in transparency, fairness, and the rule of law.
The senator concluded by urging a review of the current procedures, asserting that justice must not be manipulated for political revenge. He maintained that the only way to preserve public trust and uncover the truth is through an impartial and constitutionally sound process.
