-As 4th Judicial Circuit Court opens in Harper with 27 cases on the Docket
By Charles Gbayor,charlesmenlor@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- Twenty seven cases are on the Docket of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Harper, Maryland County in southeastern Liberia, the Judge has disclosed as the court officially opens for the November A.D 2019 term.
The docket is crowded with Criminal Facilitation and Thief of Property case (13), while there are 14 civil cases.
According to the Resident Circuit Judge, Nelson Tokpa, the Court will do everything in it power to render Justice to the Liberian people, as he gave his charge during the official opening ceremony of the court on Monday, November 11, 2019.
Judge Tokpa said the court remains committed to giving or providing Justice and will render Justice to the Liberian people without any form of discrimination and ethnicity/tribalism, but in accordance with Laws of the Republic of Liberia.
The Resident Circuit Court Judge cautioned citizens not to take the laws into hands but rather seek solution through the Court.
Judge Tokpa vowed that fair judgement will be giving in the 27 cases set to be tried during this term of court.
The Maryland County Circuit Court Judge then praised the Magistrates for the high level of cooperation and collaboration in working for people of Maryland County in the justice sector.
They have been cooperative in dispensing Justice and fair judgment for cases, he said.
The Judge used the occasion to welcome new magistrates into the Maryland county Judiciary circuit and asked them to work with others to improve on our county justice sector.
Judge Tokpa also noted that the court has been hit by the wicked hands of death, losing three of it court staffers in 2019.
The opening ceremony of the 4th Judicial Circuit Court brought together Magistrates from various Magisterial Courts across Maryland County, representative from the office of the County Superintendent, Cater Center Liberia, civil society organizations as well as students of both our Lady of Fatima and Christ the Hing High Schools and incoming Jurors and members of the media.
Public Defender on proper justice
Speaking during the ceremony, Maryland County Public Defender Attorney Joshua G. K. Odoi said the forces of Justice and the forces of injustice will be at work in this term of Court. But he said their goal as Public Defender is to render fair Justice and properly.
Atty. Odoi blamed the Bad road Conditions of the entire south Eastern Region that attributed to the absence of the Persecution Council and the Other Public Defender of Maryland County Attorney, Adolphus Taylor.
Atty. Odoi is at the same time calling on the Liberian Legislatures to come up with new statutory provision or laws that give Government lawyers the right to handle civil cases in courts in rural Liberia.
The Public Defender noted that Courts in Liberia pays more attention to Criminal cases than Civil Cases that why these cases are proportion to each other.
He disclosed that civil cases give birth to Criminal cases and if things must be handle at the court level, civil cases should also be giving more attention like Criminal cases.
“We are willing to provide legal service on a Pro bono basis if the Legislatures can amend the Liberian laws or create new statutory provision,” the Maryland County Public Defender said.
“For instance if have Money and you don’t have money, a piece of land might be for you but because I have money I will lie that I have buy the land and you who don’t have money will bring the case to court and this particular case will be dragging this mighty cause you to go and fight or built on the land in Question,” Atty. Odoi explained.
Cater Center’s Project Officer, Mr. Michael Bliddle told Journalists at the court opening that his institution is working with eight counties in Liberia where the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission are operating.
Mr Biddle said his group is also working with lawyers and are providing services to Women whose rights have been violated.
He said Cater Center is also supporting pro bono legal services in eight counties and is meant to provide assistant to people who go to court but don’t have money or lawyer, especially women whose rights have been continuously violated and abused.
Although both County Attorney Taylor and Cllr Allison were absent from the last term of court, they are now expected to be in Maryland County before the hearing of cases start this term of court.
Police want citizens stop accusing them of wrong doings
Meanwhile, Liberia National Police Maryland Detachment official, Superintendent Daouda M. Swaray has said citizens of the County should stop accusing the police of being corrupt and releasing people on “who know you basis.”
He told www.newspublictrust.com in Harper that the Police have the right to keep someone who is alleged to have committed crimes for 48 hours without charge. And anything above that, the person will be set free by the police.
“Police are not taking money from people to release them from the cell and people should stop attacking security officers,” Police Superintendent Swaray said.
“If you carry you complaint to the police station, please make sure you fellow your cases until it goes to court and get final judgement but people should not see Someone who was alleged of been criminal activities out and conclude that Police are Corrupt and the justice system is not working in the interest of the Liberia people, especially Maryland,” the LNP Maryland County Detachment official said.