As The Ministry Is Failing To Fuel Correction Officers’ Bus To Transport Defendants To Court
PHOTO: The bus that the Justice Ministry is failing to fuel to transport the defendants
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Court observers and party litigants are wondering whether the Ministry of Justice who is prosecuting the US$100M cocaine drug case is prepared to continue with the case given the many challenges faced by Correction officers are being downplayed by the Ministry as Garmah Never Lomo reports.
It has been revealed by the Judge of the Criminal Court and Correction officers that the Justice Ministry has failed to even fuel the bus used to transport inmates, including defendants in the largest drug case from the Monrovia Central Prison to courts.
On Thursday, March 30,2023, the Ministry of Justice through their prosecuting Attorneys informed Criminal Court “C” that their six witness was unprepared to appear in court after they told court that their witness could be prepared on Monday April 3,2023 but unfortunately, the Justice Ministry again requested for continuance after the case was called on ground that their six witness is ill even though they have additional two witnesses that could testify in these proceedings with the exception of the ill witness.
It is further said that correction officers have to use their personal money to fuel bus.
So it was the case today April 3, 2023, where correction officers have to put their daily bread money together to fuel the bus after two months of no pay.
Judge Blamo Dixon said,” It has been brought to the attention of the court that the Ministry of Justice or the prosecution is not providing fuel for the bus that it commuting the defendants to the court. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice is hereby ordered to provide sufficient fuel for the said bus so that the defendants will be brought to court on time. The information the court received revealed that it was the correction officers who put money together to buy one gallon of fuel for the said bus. The prosecution should take due note and act accordingly.
Due to the refusal of Ministry Justice to constantly fuel the bus has been causing delays in the hearing on a daily basis and today April 3,2023, the defendants arrived in court 12:15pm when criminal cases should be heard from 8am-12pm.”
General Rules Applicable in All Courts For Liberia says:
Rule 1
Except for the official opening day of the term of each court, or otherwise provided by law, and the rules of the Supreme Court, all courts shall meet daily at 8:00 a.m., recess and adjournment being in the discretion of the Judge, provided that excluding holidays and Sundays, all courts shall be opened from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon on Saturdays, for the purposes of filing pleadings, issuance of writ of summons and other administrative matters in accordance with law or as may be authorized by the Judge or other authority.
Rule 2
Witnesses should be seated during examination in all courts.
After they pronounced about the illness of their witness, defense lawyers responded to the application made by the prosecuting that under our law and in this jurisdiction, illness of the witness is valid for continuance; the defense observed that on the indictment, the prosecution has listed the total of eight witnesses and five have already testified thereby leaving three otherwise to take the stand.
Assuming arguendo that the information that the prosecuting attorney is true that one of its witness is ill, which the defense does not dispute, nevertheless, there are two other witnesses out of the eight that could have taken the stand today. More besides, the name of the witness that is said to be ill does was not disclosed to the court; which creates a doubt.
In spite of all of the above, the defense interposes no objection to the request for continuance but respectfully prayed Court to caution the prosecution that they should be ready at all times to proceed with the trial in the interest of the constitution right of the defendants to be accorded speedy trial.
However, the court granted the prosecution request for continuance to hear the trial on Tuesday April 4,2023.
Article 21 F of the Liberian Constitution says:
Every person arrested or detained shall be formally charged and presented before a court of competent jurisdiction within forty-eight hours. Should the court determine the existence of a prima facie case against the accused, it shall issue a formal writ of arrest setting out the charge or charges and shall provide for a speedy trial.
Meanwhile, the Jury management office and the court have resolved for the Empanel Jury to participate in the voter’s registration process. When the proper mechanism are put into place the prosecution shall send its representative, Cllr. Fodayee Blama and Defense shall send its representative Cllr. Richard Scott Jr. accompany the jurors to the registration center that will be selected by the Jury management office and details shall be given fourth instant which is Tuesday April 4,2023 concerning the participation of the jurors in the voter’s registration process.