PHOTO: Senior Magistrate John Nyanti
By Emmanuel S. Koffa, emmanuelkoffa506@gmail.com
Cell #: (+231) 88602-2581/775401123
BARCLAYVILLE, Liberia-The Senior Prosecutor at the Magisterial Court here in the southeastern Grand Kru County, John Nyanti has raised serious concern about the prolonged absence and delay in the construction of a modern prison facility in the county.
According to the Barclayville prosecutor, the prevailing situation is negatively impacting one of the key components of the criminal justice system of this County.
Prosecutor Nyanti indicated that, the longstanding and highly unfortunate situation has compelled authorities in the county to transport perpetrators of major crimes, convicted criminals and pretrial detainees to Maryland, River Gee, Sinoe and Grand Gedeh Counties on commercial motorbikes.
He made the assertions recently at his office in Barclayville in an interview with a team of Journalist.
Mr. Nyanti noted that the current situation is not welcoming for the county and relatives of detainees who want to visit their brothers or sisters who are behind bars.
The Barclayville Prosecutor emphasized that when the prison facility is built and to turn over to court actors in the county, it will enhance and strengthen the three components of the legal system in the efficient release of the justice system, adding that, it will also restore citizens confidence in the legal system.
John Nyanti pointed out that the construction of a prison compound in the county will make it possible for local citizens, county administration and legislative caucus to persistently engage central government through the Ministry of Justice, as Grand Kru County is the only county in Liberia that does not have a prison center, despite recommendations submitted to the justice ministry.
The Grand Kru County Prosecutor lamented that the lack of a detention facility is a major impediment the Criminal Justice System is faced with, noting that, the LNP female component of the cell is the only one being used by authorities of the Bureau of Correction and Rehabilitation to correct both male and female inmates, which is unusual.
The Barclayville City Prosecutor believes that the absence of a correction center has resulted in correction officials rejecting inmates sent by various magisterial courts within the county due to limited space at the withholding cell, noting that the facility can only provide comfortable accommodation for less than 14 persons.
He wants the central government to see the need to construct a prison compound as urgent, as well as the deployment of more police officers in Grand Kru County.
At the same time, he has spoken of frustration over the lack of office space for the smooth operation of the Court in Grand Kru.
It was learned that the Magisterial Court is running its daily operations from the Grand Kru County’s administration building, something Prosectutor Nyanti termed as causing a delay in the court operations.
He is calling on humanitarian organization and partners through the county authorities for the construction of the Barclayville Magisterial Court and other courts.