LIBERIA: MOJ, Information Ministers Contempt Charge Intensifies …As S/Court Gives 72Hrs Ultimatum

The Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia along with the Minister of Information Contempt Charge has taken another trench with the Full Bench after their failure to appear before them.
Ministers Frank Musa Dean and Ledgerhood Julius Rennie on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, were absent from the hearing of a Contempt Charge placed on them by the Chief Justice along with her colleagues of the Supreme Court of Liberia.

The High Court in punitive tone fined both Information Minister and Justice Minister who were represented by the Solicitor General designate Nyanti Tuan US$500 each for failure to appear before them after they were held in contempt.
Ministers Dean and Rennie were held in contempt of court after bringing the Judiciary to public disgrace following the not guilty verdict brought down by the Grand Jury of Montserrado in relation to the US$100 million cocaine case; as such, they were expected to appear before the full Bench of the Supreme Court to show cause why they should not be held in contempt but to no avail.
Making it worst, the Solicitor General designate Tuan informed the Chief Justice along with her colleagues that Ministers Dean and Rennie travel out of Liberia yesterday, June 6, 2023, for an official duty; as such, he was surprised that the two ministers did not notify the Full Bench. With that the two Ministers were fine.
The Solicitor General fines comes in after he went representing the two Ministers when it was the Justice Minister and Attorney General whom should have been the one to represent, he and the other government officials but were nowhere to be found.

Recently, the Supreme Court of Liberia summoned both the Justice and Information Ministers to defend themselves against allegations of contempt. This comes after a not guilty verdict was reached in a US$100 million cocaine case.
The two Ministers were charged to appear before the full bench of the Supreme Court on June 6, 2023.
The Contempt Charge derives from a Writ of Summons to Front Page Africa newspaper over an Action of Criminal Contempt of court.
It can be recalled, Minister Dean criticized the verdict, adding that it undermines the collective efforts of Liberia and its international coalition to lock down on drug trafficking.
The Attorney General of Liberia emphasized that all three branches of the government must work together to effectively combat drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes associated with illicit drug transportation and sale.
Based on that the Supreme Court summoned both the Justice and Information Ministers to defend themselves against allegations of contempt. This comes after a not guilty verdict was reached in a US$100 million cocaine case.