PHOTO: Sen. Milton Teahjay
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Sinoe County Senator, J. Milton Teahjay is the in news for reportedly grossly disrespecting a court Citation and threatening to remove a Circuit Court Judge, Karboi Nuta from office if he ever repeats sending him such citation.
This comes after Sen. Teahjay was cited to a conference based on a complaint filed by a resident of the United States of America Patricia Matee Flomo who currently visiting Liberia for an alleged stolen vehicle.
On November 9, 2021, Criminal Court “B” Judge Nuta issued a citation for a conference between he(Teahjay) and complaint Flomo on the vehicle in question.
In his response to the citation from the Criminal Court “B” clerk, Sen. Teahjay said he acknowledged the citation on order of Judge Nuta who cites him (Senator Teahjay) to appear on Wednesday November 10,2021, at 11am in the Chambers of Judge Nuta in respect of a complaint filed by madam Patricia Matee Flomo.
Narrating further, Sen. Teahjay informed the court through it Clerk for onward information to Judge Nuta, that the Legislature is in session and that citation is in clear contravention of his Senator Teahjay’s immunity as enshrined in Article 42 of the 1986 constitution of Liberia.
Article 42 of the Liberian Constitution states:
No member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall be arrested, detained, prosecuted or tried as a result of opinions expressed or votes cast in the exercise of the functions of his office. Members shall be privileged from arrest while attending,
going to or returning from sessions of the Legislature, except for treason, felony or breach of the peace. All official acts done or performed and all statement made in the Chambers of the Legislature shall be privileged, and no Legislator shall be held accountable or punished therefor.
Sen. Teahjay also informed Judge Nuta that considering the citation, it interferes with and/or obstructs his legislative duties and responsibilities, in which instance Judge Nuta could be held in Contempt of the Liberian Senate and removed from office at its next session; should he repeat this violation of citing a Senator sitting in legislative session as is provided by section 31 of the legislative law.
The complainant (Patricia Matee Flomo) complained:
Your Honor I write to register a formal complain against Mr. Milton Teahjay who deceitively obtained my motor vehicle with the following specs BMW, X-5 SUV, VIN #UXFE8367LZUS334, Berge color and has since refused to turn it over to me. Your Honor, I am constraint to complain Teahjay because he promised to cleared the said the vehicle using his legislative immunity at the free port of Monrovia after she was introduced to he(Senator Teahjay) by his brother Patrick Teahjay who also is a resident of the United States of America. Your Honor Senator Teahjay cleared my vehicle in early March 2021, at which time he was instructed to turn the car over to my late father but he refused to do so stating that the car belongs to him and up to present, the car is still in the possession of Teahjay.
Also, when the Sinoe County Senator’s lawyer, Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson was contacted, he said he was arranging a conference wherein, she produced all legitimate documents as regarding her ownership of the car.
Cllr. Johnson told the Judge that it “will shock you to know that Honorable Teahjay falsified all the car documents and have it registered in his name.”
This act of Teahjay, Cllr. Johnson claimed is “Criminal and clearly intended to deny her of her right to own property and it is her prayer that the Judge will call upon Senator Teahjay for a conference to establish why he Refusing to turn over her car and so in doing order the said vehicle parked to prevent same from further wear and tear and also grant unto her all that is just and equitable in the premise of law.”
Letter of Citation from Criminal Court B
“By directive of his Honor Karboi K. Nuta, resident Circuit Court Judge Criminal Court B, Temple of Justice Monrovia, you are hereby cited to appear on Wednesday November 10, 2021, at 11am in the Chambers of the Judge.”
The citation further said that all parties are requested to be present based upon the complaint filed by the complainant against the defendant.
“In furtherance of said directive, you would have me attach a copy of the said complaint for your personal and request that you appear before this court on the time and date mentioned above.”