LIBERIA: COURT RE-ORDER JUSTICE MINISTRY TO PAY US$113,000 TO ACQUITTED DRUG DEALERS

Days after the Supreme Court Justice In- Chamber Yamie Q. Gbeisay declined to grant the Writ of Peremptory filed by the Government of Liberia(GoL), Criminal Court ‘‘C’’ Judge Blamo Dixon has re-ordered the Ministry of Justice to pay US$113,000.00 to the four acquitted defendants.

This re- order came as a result of Justice Gbeisay instructions to Judge Dixon to take charge of the matter after trashing Government’s petition due to lack of merits.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, Judge Dixon instructed Clerk of Court to inform the Ministry of Justice to pay the said amount to the four acquitted defendants(Malam Conte, Adulai Djibri Djalo, Makki Admeh Issam and Oliver A. Zayzay) through their legal Counsels.

“ You hereby ordered to bring to the First Judicial Circuit Criminal Court “C” the total amount of US$113,000.00 on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 3P.M for onward transmission to the defendants by and thru their legal counsels,” Judge Dixon instructed.

He furthered that all other monies that were associated during the hearing of the case entitled cause of action are waived.

It can be recalled that on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, the Justice in Chambers declined to grant the Writ of Peremptory filed by the GoL against Judge Dixon ruling instructing the Jurors that if those defendants found ‘Not Guilty’ then the US$200,000.00 taken from the defendant Malam Conte at the time will be given back immediately.

The GoL furthered that Judge Dixon order was erroneous because it is not in his purview to issue such an order, adding that the said money on the indictment was US$200,000.00 but after the investigation they realized that the amount was reduced to US$113.000, which was the actual amount that they (Petitioner) received and deposited at the Central Bank of Liberia(CBL) and a copy of the confirmation of the deposit of US$113,000.00 is in their possession.

They contended that the actual money does not belong to any of the defendants that were acquitted as it was provided by Gustavo Henrique to purchase a container, according to Malam Conte, one of the acquitted defendants.

On May 24, 2023, after the conference Associate Justice Gbeisay ruled against GoL, saying there is no merit found in the case.

He furthered urged that this matter be trashed due to the lack of merit and send the matter back to Judge Dixon to take charge of which GoL immediately took appeal to the Full Bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia.