PHOTO: New Judicial complex in Nimba County’s capital, Saniquellie
By Joseph Wongbay
SANNIQUELLIE, Liberia–A 53-year-old former judicial magistrate of the Zuolay Magisterial Court in the northeastern Nimba County has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the specialized Sexual Offenses Court of the 8th Judicial Circuit here.
On Monday, March 18, 2024, the specialized court for the trial of atrocities against women, girls, and children convicted the former magistrate for raping a 12-year-old infant who had been living with him and his wife Rita Dahn (victim’s aunt) on the farm in Zuolay Town, Tappita City, Lower Nimba County since May 2023.
Resident Circuit Judge, Musa S. Sidibey on Monday, March 18, 2024, sentenced Chester S. Paye, former Magistrate of Zoulay to 25 years of Imprisonment following the trial jury’s majority guilty verdict return.
The court at the same time denied the motion for a new trial filed by the Defense Lawyer. It can be recalled on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, eleven out of twelve jurors returned a majority guilty verdict against Chester S. Paye, 53, for rapping the 12-year-old girl. Eleven of the jurors voted a guilty verdict, while one abstained without indicating a guilty or not guilty verdict on the verdict delivered.
The court ruling indicates that the convict, Chester S. Paye was found guilty based on facts, evidence adduced during trial, arguments of both prosecution and defense counsels, and legal citations in its judgment.
In his ruling, Judge Musa S. Sidibey said the court notes that throughout the trial proceedings, the defendant did not show remorse even after the jury returned the majority verdict of guilty against him.
According to His Honor Sidibey, the court also considers that the convict, 55 years old, is purported to be a former judicial magistrate with no known criminal record, therefore, the ruling and sentence imposed by the court take into consideration the utility of punishment, that is, deterrence, correction and rehabilitation.
The Specialized Sexual Offenses Court’s decision looks to be a punishment that provides safe environments for children and to deter others with evil intent from posing danger to children and women as well as other vulnerable groups living within the borders of the Republic of Liberia. Chester S. Paye’s commission of the crime of Statutory Rape is graded a felony of the first degree which carries a maximum term of life imprisonment backed by the Penal Law Revised Code: 26:14.70(4)(a).
The court judgment on Monday adjudged the former magistrate guilty and sentenced him to a prison term of twenty- five (25) years including time already served while in pre-trial detention and the remaining term be served at the Palace of Corrections located in the 7th Judicial Circuit for Grand Gedeh County with no possibility of parole.
Convict Chester S. Paye, ex-magistrate of Zuolay Magisterial Court was arrested and indicted by the Grand Jury of Nimba County sitting in its November 2023 Term of Court.
The Sexual Offenses Division Court’s final judgment found Chester S. Paye guilty of the crime of statutory rape, which the prosecution accused him of. But responding to both rulings on a motion for a new trial and final judgment, Defense Counsel, Cllr. Allen F. Gweh took exception to the rulings of the court and announced an appeal to the high court, the Supreme Court of Liberia sitting in its March Term 2024 to advantage of the law controlling the statute.