As Judge Blamo Dixon Rejects Front FPA Newspaper’s Apology, Fining It US$500
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The nearly half of dozen defendants in the US$100 million cocaine case have since been found not guilty by the Jury of the Criminal Court “C” and the suspects have since been released from prison and have left Liberia, but the aftermath continues to unravel.
On May 18, 2023, four persons were indicted by the government in connection with the shipment of the cocaine and they have been tried on multiple charges including criminal conspiracy, money laundering, unlicensed possession of controlled drugs and unlicensed importation of controlled drugs.Defendants In US$100M Cocaine Case Found Not Guilty In Liberia – News Public Trust
In order to disprove the allegation made by Front Page Africa in its May 19,2023 publication that there was alleged bribery in the wake of the Jurors unanimous guilty verdict, Criminal Court “C” Judge, A. Blamo Dixon on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 called up two of the court’s Bailiffs to testify on behalf of the court.
Abegrial Freeman and Janjay Yatoe testified that the jurors were continually under security protection both at the Temple of Justice and during the time they were taken to hospital and at the time they were taken in their respective districts to participate in the voter registration.
After their testimonies on the direct, lawyers representing the defendant Front Page Africa Cllr. Nagbalee Warner and Cllr. J. Johnny Momo waved cross examination.
Following the defense lawyers who waved cross examination, Judge Dixon ordered final argument to be heard and he was the one who did the argument stating where prosecution went wrong for which they didn’t win the case while walking around in the court with a black microphone and dressed up a black coat suit.
Judge Dixon on Tuesday June 13,2023 said that the Liberian government destroyed evidence by not preserving its evidence in the US$100 million cocaine case, which was said to be the country’s biggest ever narcotic drugs bust.
During argument of Criminal Contempt proceeding against the management of Front Page New Paper, Judge Dixon said that the 510kg of cocaine were brunt at the BTC, while the government only carried 20kg to court.
He continues that the USD$210K that the government of Liberia took from the defendants were not brought to court by government, indicating that in the middle of the trial the prosecution informed the court that they wanted to amend the indictment by saying that only USD$1,13,00.00 they had, but that request was made after the indictment was read to the juror with USD$200k written in the indictment.
According to him, on May 18, 2023, the defendants was found not guilty and the government was ordered to give back the defendants their USD$200K adding that the law says with the not guilty verdict, you should immediately free the defendants and it is only guilty verdict can turn around if the judge wanted, but not guilty cannot help no body and the government cannot take appeal.
He maintained that the TRH tampered with the evidence, he said the Container containing the cocaine left the Freeport to Sayon town which is the head office of TRH. But he said when the defendant Malam Conte went to pay for the container he give the management of TRH USD$200k and the general manager of TRH put Conte under gun point instead of carry him to their warehouse at Bong mine Pierre, they put him in the car and carried him at Topo village when they got there the product was not in the container but rather in TRH warehouse.
“It was surprising and strange to have heard the managing editor of the Front Page Africa news on the BBC talking rubbish when he doesn’t know how the Court operates” Judge Dixon asserted.
“Imagine Justice Minister who is not even my friend also messaged me on my WhatsApp but Judge Dixon didn’t tell the audience whether it was a threaten or friendly messages.”
Judge Dixon told the Front Page Africa Management that prosecution didn’t prove their case beyond reasonable doubt but allow the defense lawyers to put hole in the gari by using the custom breakers Association president and the managing editor of the New Dawn Newspaper to testify for them.
The US$500,000.000 which Front Page Africa mentioned that it was given to people around the judiciary circle and jurors is my ten years salaries the nonsense, Judge Dixon added.
However, Front Page Africa Management in its response said, defendant says with all sincerity that it actually did not think or believe that its publication subject of these contempt proceedings, would be construed as contemptuous by this Honorable court or the Judiciary.
However, to the extent that the publication is construed or may be construed as being contemptuous, defendant sincerely apologizes to your Honor and this Honorable court and the Liberian Judiciary as a whole for any and all negative light the said publication may have caused your Honor and the Honorable court and the Judiciary.
Defendant (Front Page Africa Management) says it certainly did not intend and could not have intended to blame, embarrass or denigrate the court or the Liberian Judiciary in regard to the publication of the story in question. Defendant further added that it will never engage in act(s)or publish any story for the purpose of ridiculing, bringing into disrepute or undermining the dignity of this Honorable and the Judiciary.
In conclusion the defendant said, that it’s explanation above is only responding to the request in the citation and not in any way intended to argued or join issue with the Honorable court.
Defendant further says that it had and has no intent whatsoever to blame, embarrass or defame this Honorable court, the Liberian Judiciary or your Honor by the publication.
Wherefore and in view of the foregoing laws, facts and circumstances, defendant prays your Honor’s indulgence to purge it of the contempt charges; that it be forever set free from answering to the Contempt charge and grant unto defendant such other and further relief as your Honor may deem just and equitable in the premises.
Meanwhile, Judge Blamo Dixon has rejected the apology of Front Page Africa Management and ordered them to pay US$500, which is expected to be paid in ten days.
Judge said the payment of the US$500 by the Front Page Africa Management will serve as deterrence for other media outlets.