By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia- After being in custody at the Monrovia Central Prison for nearly two weeks, the country’s former Chief Justice, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott has received a high profile visitor, former Vice President Joseph Boakai, who is the tandard Bearer of Unity Party.
The visit of Mr. Boakai earlier this week (Wednesday, July 5, 2023) came barely a day after Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice denied a Motion to Admit to Bail that was filed by Cllr. Scott’s lawyers.
On Thursday, June 22, 2023 she was sent to jail by the Monrovia City Court presided over by Magistrate Ben Barco, after she and three of her family members were charged with Murder, Criminal Conspiracy and raising false alarms in connection with the gruesome death of her daughter, Charloe Musu.
On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, Judge Willie denied the defendants’ Motion to Admit to Bail and asked state prosecutors to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the guilt of the defendants as required by law to be shown when the case is assigned.
He also ruled that prosecution should produce all pieces of evidence against the defendants on today, same being July 5, 2023.
Judge Willie reliance was on Article 21(d)(i) which states that “All accused persons shall be billable upon their personal recognizance or by sufficient sureties depending on the gravity of crime unless crimes of capital offenses or grave offenses as defined.”
Recently, the indictment of felonious crimes drawn against the defendants was countered by lawyers representing Cllr. Scott to be bailed due to the weight of the evidence produce to the Grand Jury of Montserrado County.
In their counter argument, the defendants including Cllr Scott, Ma Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, Gertrude Newton and Alice Johnson respectfully prayed the court to grant their Motion to Bail for the following factual and legal reasons.
The defendants submitted that they were indicted by the Liberian Government for the alleged commission of the crimes of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy and Making False Statements to Law Enforcement Officers on June 23, 2023, following the issuance and arrest of them on June 22, 2023 on a Magisterial Writ and incarcerated to a common jail.
According to the defendants’ seven counts petition, based on the content and narrative of the indictment, they are entitled to bail pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law, Chapter 1, Subsection 13.1, captioned ‘Right to Bail”.
“Under the law referenced, it is provided that all crimes are bailable, especially when the proof is not evident and the presumption is not great,” they contended.