By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The Supreme Court has placed Bong County Traditional Leaders on parole, after they were arrested and detained for allegedly stripping Magistrate William G. Capehart naked.
The Judge was stripped naked recently along with some police officers and sheriffs of the Salala Magisterial court were abducted and initiated into the traditional school; whilst the Bong Mines and Gbartala Magisterial courts also experienced disturbances and attempted abduction.
Commissioner Daniel Tubman, Commissioner, Clinton Brown, Acting City Major of Totota City, Robert Sulu, Acting General Town Chief of Totota City, Miller Bondo , Youth Leader of Salala District, Varney Sirleaf , Poro Grove Operator in Salala District, Ernest White, Cultural Advisor, Joseph Kollie, Acting Paramount Chief of Fuamah Chiefdom, all of Bong County held for vandalizing the magisterial courts in Salala , Bong Mines and Gbartala.
It was based upon these dreadful acts that the Supreme Court held these defendants in criminal contempt and sentenced to six months imprisonment at the Monrovia Central Prison as deterrence and as a means for defendants to re-evaluate their actions.
It can be recalled that the full bench of the Supreme Court unanimously agreed to deny a request from some executive from the Bong county seeking pardon on behalf of seven (7) local county officials held in criminal contempt of the Judiciary Branch of Government after being sentenced six months imprisonment.
According to the Supreme Court ruling yesterday the granting of pardon by the Supreme Court for a penalty it imposed on an individual who have committed contempt is a matter of Judicial discretion more than application of the Law.
“Hence, it is the power of the Supreme Court to extend mercy to the petitioners if their conduct and attitude since their imprisonment warrant same,” Chief Justice Yuoh noted.
She added that the petitioner having served three months out of the six months sentence of imprisonment imposed by the Supreme Court and thereafter expressed remorse for their action executed an affidavit to the effect that they would remain Law-abiding at all times and uphold the integrity and dignity of the courts within the Republic of Liberia.
“The request for release from further detention is hereby granted with the provisions that for reminder of their sentence they report once monthly to the ministerial office of their respective magisterial courts who shall record their attendance,” the court added.
The high court mandated the clerk to order to forthwith issued their release and place same in the hands of the Marshall of the Supreme Court to have those held in contempt released from further detention.