Montserrado County Attorney Breaks Silence About Alleged Misappropriation Of US$150K To Prosecute Charloe Musu Murder Trial
PHOTO: Cllr. Swailho A. Sesay and other state prosecutors on the defensive
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- One of the state prosecutors, who was accused by the Montserrado County Attorney of misappropriating the US$150K intended for the prosecution of the murder trial of former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott over the death of her daughter, Charloe Musu, has now broken silence on the matter.
Earlier, there were reports of claims and counter claims arising over the US$150,000, the former George Weah’s government provided for prosecution of the case, which was said to be in the care of the Solicitor Justice Nyenati Tuan for the trial of the trial of Cllr. Scott and three others. The trial ended in Monrovia recently and the four were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Cllr. Swahilo Sesay, County Attorney of Montserrado County was alleged to have misapplied the money in question.
But Cllr. Sesay has said that they should have returned portion of the money to the Controller since the proceedings was held in Montserrado County.
According to him, as a County Attorney he was responsible to take custody of the money, those prosecutors who were prosecuting the case shared the money among themselves.
“Cllr. Bobby Livingstone, Adolphus Karnuah, and the other Lawyers’ shared the money right in my present without giving me a dime as a County Attorney,” Cllr. Sesay alleged.
Cllr. Bobby Livingstone
Former Chief Justice Scott’s prosecution fund was intended for transportation, feedings, and lodging of witnesses and lawyers if the case were to be transferred from Montserrado County to any part of the country which did not happen a source told journalists.
Cllr. Karnuah
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, February 14,2024, Cllr. Bobby Livingstone who heads the financial crime unit at the Ministry of Justice, admitted that prosecution team received US130K from the offices of Control at the Ministry instead, the US$150K as being alleged by Cllr. Swaliho.
According to Cllr. Livingstone, he personal received the amount US$6K as a prosecutorial shared of the money.
“This our normal practice as prosecutors to receive fund at the Ministry for every cases that we will handled for each of the cases as the progresses”.
Also reacting to Cllr. Sesay’s claim that he didn’t receive a dime from the US150K and that the accused prosecutors distributed the money in his presence, Cllr. claimed that Sesay received US$3K (three thousand United States Dollars).
“During the first distribution of the money, Cllr. Sesay didn’t participate but the second distribution which time received and signed for his portion of the US3K”.
However, when contacted, Cllr. Sesay demanded that Cllr. Livingstone produces documentary evidence to support his claims that he he received US3K.
“Let them produce to you listing of the lawyers who received the money and if it is established that I received and signed for the money, I will submit myself to a criminal investigation Sesay challenges Cllr. Livingstone.
Cllr. Livingstone alleged that Cllr. Sesay frustration comes after a letter from the Human office dated February 8,2024 and signed by Irwin D. Nimely.
Portion of Nimely’s complaints received from various lawyers that you are continuing to make representations in court on behalf to government of Liberia. As you are, you were appointed by former president George M. Weah and by law you represent the interest of government.
However, he said that any negative results emanating from the cases you have disposed of might produce serious financial and legal implications on the institution.
Against this backdrowp, “we kindly request that you refrain from making representations on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and turn over all government assets to my office until you are reappointed”.
The letter was CC copied Cllr. Elizabeth Nelson, Court administrator, Cllr. Adolphus Karnuah Civil Litigation and President of the prosecution Association and Cllr. Bobby Livingstone, Director of Financial Crimes.
Cllr. Sesay recently alleged the US150K was distributed among prosecutors which was meant for change venue if granted but sadly, the case wasn’twas transferred to any county.
In August last year (2023), the Supreme Court has suspended the newly appointed Monsterrado County Attorney, Alhaji Swailho A. Sesay, “rom the practice of law directly and indirectly, within the bailiwick of Liberia, for the period of one month, with immediate effect.”