By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- In the trial of former Liberian Defense Minister, Brownie J. Samukai on corruption allegations, the Criminal Court C at the Temple of Justice on Monday issued a Writ of Subpoena Testificandun on four Ministers in the current CDC government.
Subpoena Testificandun is a court summons to appear and give oral testimony for use of a hearing or trial.
The Ministers of State for Presidential Affairs and Defense and Justice, Nathaniel McGill, Daniel Ziahkan and Cllr. Frank Musa Dean are to produce the original copies of documents testified to by former Minister Samukai in the ongoing corruption case this Thursday, March 12, 2020.
Former Defense Minister Samukai is slapped with several criminal charges, including money laundering, economic sabotage, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy, and theft of property along with former Deputy Defense Minister Joseph Johnson and former defense Comptroller Nyumah Dorkor.
The three former Defense officials in the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government were recently indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado for their alleged role in the embezzlement of the compulsory savings fund of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Taking the witness stand, former Minister Samukai testified that the CDC government has paid four hundred thousand US dollars into the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) pension account, since taking office on January 22, 2020.
Another Writ of Subpoena Testificandum issued by Criminal Court C has also been issued on Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 to produce payment receipt voucher, letter authorizing disbursement and all other documents relating to US$460,000.
Former Defense Minister Samukai told the Criminal Court that the Liberian government has paid four hundred and sixty thousand US dollars, but it is yet to be granted by the court.
Meanwhile, state lawyers prosecuting the case have objected to the Writ of Subpoena on the three government Ministers to appear in court.
But the Criminal Court C Judge has gone ahead to issue the Writ of Subpoena Testificandun.
The case is now being presided over by Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay.
At the start of the trial, the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court C, Nancy Sammy recuse herself from the trial of this case.
Judge Sammy said she could preside over this case because she has a personal relationship with co-movant, Brownie Samukai as they are members of the same church.