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Court Places Travel Ban On 20 Liberians Linked To Theft Of USAID Medical Drugs

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PHOTO: Temple of Justice in Monrovia

The Judge of Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia has banned over 20 alleged criminals from leaving Liberia based on multiple charges levied against them in connection with theft of drugs and medical supplies donated by USAID to the government.

Judge A. Blamo Dixon’s decision comes after the Government of Liberia prayed the court for a Writ of Ne-Exeat-Republica; stopping all the defendants from running away from Liberia from prosecution due to the allegations.

The Judge’s ban stated: “WHEREAS, IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED TO HIS HONOR A. BLAMO DIXON, RESIDENT CIRCUIT JUDGE, FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, CRIMINAL COURT “C” FOR MONTSERRADO COUNTY, REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA, SITTING IN ITS AUGUST TERM, A.D. 2024, THAT THE PETITIONER HERETO FILED BEFORE THIS COURT AN APPLICATION FOR NE EXEAT REPUBLICA, THAT THE DEFENDANTS IN THE ABOVE CAPTIONED CASE (JIANJAY MOORE POTTER, BANDU MAMIE WALLEY, MAMUDOU SOW, CECELIA KUMBA BLAMA, ALEX KOKOLIA, INSTON LOGAN, BAIMBA J. ADAM, MATHILNUE DUKULY FANHNBULLEH, COMFORT K. FALKORNIA, JOSEPH GUDDAH, SECURITY EXPECT GUARD AGENCY OF LIBERIA OFFICERS PETER DIOH DEAN, HENRY FLOMO, BENETITUS J SARTEH, ARCHIES. GAYEM, KORPO FETEKU, LOVE M. KAMARA, MOSESY. WERELLEH, ROSE ZAMMIE, CARMELINA S. BROWN, ANTOINETTE S. D. JAIAH, MERCY D. JOHNSON, REBINA S. BONO, WINSTON LOGAN, KOLU ZOKABOLOR, J. EBENEZER YELORBAH AND OTHERS TO BE IDENTIFIED) ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE THE BAILIWICK OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA TO FOREIGN PARTS TO THE SURPRISE OF THE PETITIONER/PLAINTIFF, AND THAT THE ASSIGNED JUDGE HAVING BEEN DULY SATISFIED UPON THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER, ORDERS A WRIT OF NE EXEAT REPUBLICA ISSUED.

“Judge Dixon then ordered the arrest of all the defendants if any attempt to leave the country to foreign parts to the surprise of the court and the state.

“THE DEFENDANTS SHOULD BE ARRESTED AND FORTHWITH BROUGHT BEFORE THIS COURT WHEN THEY ARE LEAVING OR ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE THE BAILIWICK OF THE COUNTRY WITHOUT THE COURT’S PERMISSION,” said Judge Dixon.

Also, he commanded that the living bodies of the defendants be arrested when leaving the country without the consent of the court and be brought before the court based upon their arrest. The Judge further commanded the sheriff of Criminal Court “C” Capt. Tina G. Norring for Montserrado County, to seize their passports when the defendants are making an attempt to leave the bailiwick of Liberia without a written permission under the seal of the court.

“IF THE COURT IS CLOSED AND THE DEFENDANTS CANNOT BE, THEREFORE, SUBMITTED TO THE COURT, YOU SHALL COMMIT OR DETAIN THEM UNTIL THE NEXT WORKING DAY AND HOUR WHEN YOU SHALL HAVE BROUGHT THEM TO THE COURT, EXCEPT THAT THE DEFENDANTS PRODUCE A COURT CLEARANCE AUTHORIZING THEIR DEPARTURE FROM THE BAILIWICK OF THE COUNTRY,” Judge Dixon strongly warn.

The Government of Liberia through the Grand Jury of Montserrado County before Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” indicted over 20 persons alleged for allegedly stealing USAID over US$488k donated drugs in Caldwell.

Those alleged of stealing are Jianjay Moore Potter, Bandu Mamie Walley, Mamadou Sow, Cecelia Kumba Blama, Alex Kokolia, Winston Logan, Baimba J. Adam, Mathilnue Dukuly Fahnbulleh, Comfort K. Falkornia, Joseph Guddah, Security expert guard Agency of Liberia officers Peter Dioh Brown to be identified, John T. Harris, Moses Dean, Henry Flomo, Benetitus J. Sarteh,Archie S. Gayem, Korpo Feteku, Love M. Kamara, Moses Y. Werelleh, Rose Zarnmie, Carmelina S. Brown, Antoinette S.D. Jaiah, Mercy D. Johnson, Rebina S. Bono, Winston Logan, Kolu Zokabolor, J. Ebenezer Yelorbah , Daniel Flomo and among others to be identified.

The defendants were arrested, charged and indicted on the crimes of Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation, Theft of Property and Economic Sabotage. Recently, the court ordered the arrest of 27 persons for reportedly stealing drugs from the ware house.

The court’s mandate was due to a Writ of Arrest prayed for by the Ministry of Justice through the Pharmacistical Crime Action Team P-CAT at the ministry. The team embarked on a major arrest at the Ministry of Health headed by Atty. Jonah Anstrone Kerkulah who is the in charge to prosecute the accused from the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice prayed Criminal Court “C” for a Writ of Arrest to be served on Alex Kokolia who is the operation manager of the center medicine store located in Caldwell Township, where 488,000 plus of donor drugs got missing from the warehouse. Report by Garmah Never Lomo.

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