By: Jacqueline Dennis
IPNEWS-Monrovia: Judge Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, on Monday April 24, 2023 granted defense application into the alleged US$100 million cocaine case to subpoena the following entities and individuals, including the National Port Authority (NPA), APM Terminal, James Hinneh of Custom Union, Mr. Othello Garblah Publisher of the New Dawn Newspaper, the Management of the Financial Intelligence Unit ( FIU) and Authority of the Anti – Smuggling Unit of the Custom Services of Liberia are expected to testify on Wednesday April 26, 2023.
Judge Dixon’s decision was based on the defense first witness Malam Conte’s cross examination, when lawyers representing the defendants made an application last Thursday and requested the court to subpoena the National Port Authority and APM Terminals and others to appear and testify in the case.
However, Judge Dixon ordered the Clerk of Criminal Court “C” to issue Writs of Subpoena Decue Tecum on the Management of the National port Authority, and the APM Terminals as well as Writs of Subpoena Ad- Testificandum on several other potential witnesses.
According to the defense team, NPA and APM Terminals are to appear and testify as to whether the container said to have contained the drug (cocaine) was checked and cleared by the Authorities of the NPA and APM Terminal.
As for James Hinneh, the president of the Custom Brokers Union and Othello Garblah, the publisher of the New Dawn Newspaper will also appear to testify on the allegations made by Hinneh that the Government give special priority to the TRH not to check or inspect any consignment they may have shipped in the country with said allegations being published in the New Dawn Newspaper.
In response, Judge Blamo Dixon noted, “The application of the defense for the issuance of writ of Subpoena Decu – Tecum and Ad- Testificandum on the individuals and institutions was noted and granted.”
However, the prosecution rested with defense first witness Conte who is believed to be the only witness to testify on behalf of the defendants and is expected to produce other subpoena witnesses.
