But Judge Feika Orders Surrender Of Her Passport And Other Restrictions
PHOTO: Ex-Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor as she left the Temple of Justice on Friday
By Frank Sainworla, Jr., newspublictrust@gmail.com
Based on medical considerations, the Judge of Criminal Court “C” Ousman F. Feika at the weekend granted compassionate release to former Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who is facing multiple criminal charges for her alleged complicity in the cocaine network, after a request from her lawyers.
That happened Friday, September 4, 2026 after the Monrovia City Magisterial Court had adjourned preliminary hearing into her ongoing drug trafficking case.
The charges under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act include alleged unlicensed importation of a controlled drug or substance under Section 14.83; alleged unlicensed sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution, dispatch in transit and transportation of a controlled drug or substance under Section 14.85; and alleged illicit trafficking of a controlled drug or substance under Section 14.19.
All of these charged Howard-Taylor has since denied. Her former boos, ex-President George Manneh Weah said after returning home from abroad that the charges are “bogus and politically-motivated”.
Lawyers for the 63-year-old former Liberian Vice President had earlier asked for the prosecution to turn over its evidence in order for the Defense, something that was denied by the Court.
Criminal Court “C” Judge Feika ruled granting the compassionate release based on her Lawyers concern raised about her medical condition, asking that she be released from the Monrovia Central Prison and taken to her residence and permitted to get medical care.
In his ruling, the Judge ordered that Howard-Taylor surrenders all travel documents to the court as part of the conditions of her release.
The court also ordered that visits to her residence be limited to a family member and her physician or physician’s assistant.