PHOTO: Two-of the suspects who broke record in the scale of narcotic drugs seizure in Liberia
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia– The Criminal Court “C” Judge, Blamo Dixon has granted prosecutions a Jury sequestration in the ongoing case over the alleged trafficking 520kg of cocaine valued US$100M between Liberia and Sierra Leone Border.
The action of sequestration means taking legal possession of assets.
Judge Dixon’s decision on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 It came when the prosecution team requested the court for the selection a trial jury and after the selection, they should be sequestrated to sit on the proceedings and thereafter make determination.
It Added that their application is premised on the law of jury sequestration and it is not intended to delay the proceedings.
Based on the request made by prosecution, the court thereby ordered the clerk to address a communication to the court administrator of the Supreme Court to inform her that the prosecution in the proceedings has requested the court for jury sequestration and to put in proper perspective the appropriate mechanism to facilitate the jury sequestration.
Judge Dixon maintained that the Supreme Court should also provide a bus that will enable the prospective jurors to go to their residences to collect their personal effects and belongings that they will used on the premises of the Temple of Justice while sequestrated.
He also mandated that the said bus shall commute to jurors from the jurors’ quarter to the court room on a daily basis, pending the conclusion of the case.
The Cocain seized
The Defendants Malam Conte, Adulai Djibri Djalo, Makki Admeh Issam and Oliver A. Zayzay and others to be identified were indicted for commissioning the crime of Money Laundering, Unlicensed Possession of Controlled Drug, Unlicensed Importation of Controlled Drugs and Criminal Conspiracy.
The Grand Jury of Montserrado indictment noted that the act of the Defendants is contrary to Section 15.2 of the Money Laundering Act, 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia, and against the peace and dignity of Liberia.
It added that he indictment in acts of the Defendants are contrary to Section 14.102 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 2014 and 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia as well as against the peace and dignity of Liberia.
In the same vein, the indictment noted that the defendant’s acts are contrary to Sections 107 and 111 of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Acts 2014 and 2.2(b)of the Penal Law of Liberia, and they also hindered 4LCLR Title 26, Section 10.4 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) and 4LCLR, Title 26, Section 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia and against the peace and dignity of Liberia.
The defendants were indicted on four counts by the Grand Jury of Montaerrado County and to be brought before Criminal Court “C”, based on an arrest order issued by A. Blank Dixon, they are expected to appear before the Court this November Term to answer to said charges before them.
According to the counts in the indictment, which was brought down against them, Malam Conte, Adulai Djibri Djalo and Makki Admeh Issam, Oliver A. Zayzay, and others to be identified, conspired, colluded, and facilitated to commit the crime of Money Laundering, which is a Felony of the First Degree, Unlicensed Importation of Controlled Drug or Substance, Unlicensed Possession of Controlled Drugs or Substance which are also Felony of the First Degree and Criminal Conspiracy, Felony of Second Degree.
Defendant Makki Ahmed Issam, a resident of Sinkor along with co-defendants Adulai Djibril Djalo and Oliver Allen Zayzay were turned over to the government on October 6, through Lorenzo Pehlam, Deputy Director for Operations, Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for allegedly trafficking drugs between the Liberian and Sierra Leonean borders as well as money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
The Government of Sierra Leone arrested and turned over to its Liberian counterpart the three men who were allegedly involved in the shipment of five hundred and twenty kilogram (520kg) of cocaine valued at one hundred million United States dollars (USD 100m).