By: Jacqueline L. Dennis
IPNEWS-Monrovia: The US$100 million alleged Cocaine trafficking case took a different turn on Monday February 20, 2023, during the selection of jurors.
Several prospective jurors’ number were called by the jury management team but many were not present, while those who were examined by the prosecution and the defense, eight were selected.
At the same there were others who were selected to serve, but pleaded to the court that they are not able to serve due to some other problems.
However for Monday, February 27 hearing, eight prospective jurors were selected and were sequestrated until the panel can be completed with seven others joining the panel.
The Judge, Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court “C”, has ordered the jury management to go throughout the length and breadth of Montserrado County to search for people who will be able to serve when they shall been selected.
The court will on Wednesday March 1, 2023, examine two (2) interpreters to translate from Portuguese to Arabic languages to English and vice versa.
Their presence where requested by the Defendants’ lawyers who asked the court to scout for interpreters to translate from Portuguese language to Arabic language and English language and vice versa.
However, few weeks ago defense lawyers requested the Court for Interpreters in both Portuguese & Arabic as some of the defendants cannot speak or understand English.
The defense lawyers requested the court to grant an opportunity for the defendants in persons of Malam Conte and Makki Ahmed Issam who are not English speakers to have an interpreter to make them follow the case as they stand trial.
It can be recalled the defendant Malam Conte, Adulai Djibri Djalo and Makki Admeh Issam and Oliver A Zayzay standing trial were indicted by the juror for Montserrado for the crime of Money Laundering, Unlicensed Possession of Controlled Drugs, Unlicensed Importation of Controlled Drug and Criminal Conspiracy.
