Former Weah Officials Posted A Valid Bond Of US$50,000-Says Credible Information Gathered
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, who is wanted by the Justice Ministry on court order for alleged corruption, is still at large, while three former CDC officials who were sent to court and put behind bars have been released on bail, as Garmah Never Lomo reports.
Former Minister Tweah’s exact whereabouts are not publicly known, but a former top official of the ex-government told this news outlet that the former Finance Minister is in neigbouring Ivory Coast and is not running away.
Three out of the five Ex-Officials who were held recently arrested, charged and jailed at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) on multiple crimes were at the weekend (Friday August 2,2024) released from further detention.
The Criminal Court “A” release order said:
“YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED TO RELEASE FROM FURTHER DETENTION THE LIVING BODY (IES) OF CLLR. NYANTI TUAN, D. MOSES P. COOPER AND JEFFERSON KARMOH DEFENDANT(S) CHARGED WITH THE COMMISSION OF THE CRIMES: ECONOMIC SABOTAGE, MISUSE OF PUBLIC MONEY, PROPERTY OR RECORD, THEFT AND/ILLEGAL DISBURSEMENT AND EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEY, THEFT OF PROPERTY, CRIMINAL FACILITATION AND CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY FORTHWITH BRING THEM BEFORE THIS HONOURABLE COURT. BASED ON THE BAIL BOND FILED.”
The release, signed by J. Gabriel Smith, Clerk of Court “A”, gave this mandate to the Sheriff:
“YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED TO MAKE YOUR OFFICIAL RETURNS TO THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT, STATING YOUR MANNER AND FORM OF SERVICE WITH YOUR SIGNATURE ENDORSED THEREON THE BACK OF THE ORIGINAL AND FOR SO DOING, THIS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOUR LEGAL AND SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY. GIVEN UNDER MY HANDS AND SEAL OF THIS COURT ON THIS 2ND DAY OF AUGUST, A.D. 2024.”
Credible information gathered from sources stated that the former officials of President George Weah administration proffered a valid criminal appearance bond in the tune of US$50,000, since all of the charges are bailible offenses.
Defendants Cllr, Nyanti Tuan, former Acting Justice Minister, Jefferson Kemoh former National Security Advisor, and D. Moses P. Cooper former Comptroller at the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) all under Weah’s regime released from prison comes about when their lawyers filed a Writ of Mandamus against Magistrate Ben Barco of the Monrovia City Court, compelling him to approve the bail bond after which time he (Magistrate Barco)has already transferred the case to Criminal Court “A” for indictment.
A Writ of Mandamus is a special judicial remedy system consisting of a court order that commands a government official, entity or judicial actor to perform an act that is legally required to do as part of his/her official duties or to refrain from performing an act the law forbids from doing which is provided for by Chapter 16, Section 16.21 of the Civil Procedure Law of Liberia.
Based upon this, the Assigned Judge of Criminal Court “B” J. Kennedy P. Peabody approved Cllr. Tuan, Cooper and Kemoh alleged US$50,000 bond and ordered their temporary release following the Chambers Justice Yusuf D. Kaba intervention.
Before Judge Peabody’s action, the three defendants through their lawyers accused Magistrate Barco of violating their constitutional rights when he (Barco) refused to approve their bond proffered before him (Barco) but transferred it to Criminal Court “A”; adding that, Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie is out of the bailiwick of Liberia.
At the same time, former Fiance Minister Samuel Tweah and Stanley S. Ford remain on at large as they are yet to come under the jurisdiction of the court.
Defendants Tuan, Cooper, Kemoh, Tweah and Ford are charged with multiple crimes ranging from Economic Sabotage, Misuse of Public Money, Property or Record, Theft of Property, Theft and Illegal Disbursement and Expenditure of Public Money, Criminal Facilitation and Criminal Conspiracy.