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Charles Sirleaf, other CBL men face Criminal Court ‘C’ in LD$16Bn Saga

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-ALP leader, Benoni Urey is one of the Sureties in Milton Weeks’ Bond hearing

By By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com

One of the sons of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Charles Sirleaf, the indicted Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia and four other present and former Criminal Court CBL officials have been arraigned before the Criminal Court ‘C’ in the LD$16 billion saga.

The hearing into bonds filed by four of defendants took place on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the temple of Justice in the May term of the Criminal Court .
The four defendants are Milton A. Weeks, Dorbor M. Hagba, Richard H. Walker and Joseph Dennis.

They are charged with and indicted for Economic Sabotage which falls under the referenced subchapter of the Penal Law.

Other defendants entering the Court

Earlier during the February term of court, state prosecutors prayed the court to grant its exception by sitting the invalid, inadequate and insufficient Criminal appearance bond aside and rule the criminal defendants incarcerated at a common jail in Monrovia (Monrovia Central Prison) and house arrest in the case of Co-defendant Charles E. Sirleaf until they can post valid criminal appearance bonds.

During the bonds hearing at Criminal Court C, co-defendant Charles E. Sirleaf was represented the law offices of J. Johnny Momoh and associates and Cllr. James E. Pierre and present in court were Atty. Milar Kataknor, Cllr. Amara Sheriff and Cllr. J. Johnny Momoh and he Charles Sirleaf was also present in court.

While Milton A. Weeks was represented by Heritage partner and associates and present in court were Cllr. Abrahim B. Sillah Sr. and J. Awai Vanka and co-defendant Weeks was also present in court.

Co-defendants Dorbor Hagba wad represented as per record and present in court were Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah and Atty. Stryker and the defendant Dorbor Hagba was present in court.

Joseph Dennis and Richard E. Walker were represented by Touch processional consultancy and promus law group NELA and present were Cllr. Powoe Hilto , Cllr. Varma J. Blama, Atty. Kojo N. Ross and Koisee Garmo and the both defendants were present in court.

State prosecutors were presented by and thru the Ministry of Justice and all prosecuting Attorneys and in association with LACC. Present in court were Cllr. Carnelius A. Warner, Cllr. Othello S. Paima, Cllr. E. Boakai Harvey and Cllr. Edwin K. Martin attorney for Montserrado.

Before the commencement of the bond hearing one counsels for co-defendant Richard E. Walker and Joseph Dennis request the court for the sole purpose of consolidating their motions for justification of sureties, since indeed and in fact four of the defendants/movants have one surety. It is the Accident and Casualty Insurance Company (ACICO) adding that the consideration of these motions is to speed up the process and to give way to the speedy disposition of the proceeding.

In resisting to the application made by one of counsels for co-defendants named Supra, one of counsels for prospection specifically, the County Attorney for Montserrado County.

He said the application made by one of counsels for the co-movants is made for the sole purpose establish as to the weight, the sufficiency and adequacy of the surety who knowingly or unknowingly serves as surety for the four defendants or co-movants.

One of counsels for prosecution said they maintained that the foundation for the surety upon which prosecution filed the exceptions is cardinal on the sufficiency and adequacy of the amount.

He said amount being summed up for four co-defendants makes it legally expeditious for said surety to appear on behalf of the four co-movants thereby to maximize the prosecution of the proceedings.

The prosecutors added that while they will not interpose any objection to said application, prosecution is of opinion that said motion and submission by the co-defendants is made in good faith and prosecution expects that the sanctity of the dispensation of the proceedings be respected by the movants.

The court said the submission for consolidation of the motions for justification of sureties for co-defendants who have one surety ASICO is supported by the record before the court. And the law provides for consolidation in this jurisdiction and prosecution interposed no objection and submission was granted by the court.

Qualification and sequestration of two persons for Milton A. Weeks surety were present in the person of Mr. Benoni Urey and Atty. Attorney Angelique G. Eupheme Weeks, sister of Milton Weeks. Both of them took the witness stand and testified as to their qualification as sureties pursuant to the property valuation bond proffered for and on behalf of Milton A. Weeks.

Mr. Urey said the property in question was purchased decades ago from Mr. Pratt who is the father of Reginald Pratt and property is located on the police academy road and has also been his possession from the date of purchase and that all of taxes owed government have been paid and have consented form his property to be used as surety for defendant weeks.

Mr. Urey said his property is valued at US$909,319.00.

While Angelique Eupheme Weeks disclosed that the property in question is a structure erected on property conveyed to her by her late mother Eupheme G. Cooper Weeks and said property having been acquired by her in the year 1959.

Madam Week testifying said the structure on the property was valued through an appraisal by the LRA in 2012 and she has been paying taxes on the said property from this date of valuation to date.

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