By Taisiah K. Merfee
FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE GLORIA M. MUSU-SCOTT WHO ‘YESTERDAY’ (5 YEARS AS CHIEF JUSTICE) DURING FORMER PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR’S ADMINISTRATION MIGHT HAVE SENT OTHERS TO JAIL, IS NOW ‘TODAY’ A PRISONER OF THE VERY SAME PLACE SHE PROBABLY SENT OTHERS — SOUTH BEACH (MONROVIA CENTRAL PRISON); SHE AND THREE OTHER LADIES WERE CHARGED WITH MURDER, CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY & FALSE REPORTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
IPNEWS – Police on Thursday, June 22nd, rearrested, charged, and sent to court former Chief Justice Gloria M. Musu-Scott and three others, on charges of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy and False Reports to Law Enforcement Officials. The former Chief Justice and her co-accused were subsequently sent to the Monrovia Central Prison following arguments in court.
Others sent to prison along with the former Chief Justice include, Gertrude Newton, Ma Rebecca Y. Wisner and Alice C. Johnson, all relatives of the former Chief justice, who once served as Justice Minister, Chairperson of the National Elections Commission and Chairperson on the Law Reform Commission.
Initially arrested on Tuesday, but were not charged, former Chief Justice Scott and the three others spent a night at the Liberia National Police headquarters, but were set free on Wednesday, June 21st, by Criminal Court C Judge, Blamo Dixon, after both prosecution and defense lawyers debated the Writ of Habeas Corpus, the former Chief Justice’s legal team had filed on the Police.
According to the court’s Writ of Arrest against the defendants, Criminal Court C said the Ministry Justice appeared before it on June 22nd and complained on oath against the defendants and said that “on February 22nd, 2023, the Defendants did there and then by means of a sharp instrument believed to be a knife, collude, connive and conspire to stab victim Charloe Musu multiple times resulting to her untimely death.”
“Furthermore, the Defendants reported to the police that the death of the deceased was caused by the stabbing done by an unknown man who intruded into their house; but police investigation established that said account is false and misleading.”
According to the police charge sheet, the account of the family is criminal, illegal unconstitutional and has an intent and purpose to have taken away the life of another person.
It can be recalled that prior to the alleged murder of Charloe, the former Chief Justice appeared or spoke on a local radio station, complaining that an unknown person was frequenting her residence and at some point, was demanding some unspecified documents.
The Liberian Government is represented by the Ministry of Justice and its team of attorneys, while the former Chief Justice’s defense team is headed by Cllr. Augustine Fayiah and Amara Sheriff.
Following argument in court, after the former Chief Justice and others had been arrested at her 19th residence and brought to court, Cllr. Adolphus Kwanah, one of the state lawyers, said the court had listened to the application of the defendants to grant them bill bond and they had resisted their plea.
According to him, the court says it needs time to understand the matter and so ruling was reserved for today, June 23, 2023.
Among the charges of the accused is murder, which is a capital offense as such the defendants, under Liberian law, can’t be granted a bill, a legal luminary, who asked anonymity, confided in this newspaper.
The Prosecuting team further argued that there hasn’t been any effort made to provide that the crimes were not committed. They requested the court to deny, dismiss and ignore the premature bill filed by the defense counsels.
AT THE CENTRAL PRISON
On hearing that the former Chief Justice had been rearrested and was on her way to the Monrovia Central Prison, hundreds of people trooped to the Prison Compound to take a glimpse at the murder suspects, including three other family members. They are expected to spend their first night at South Beach Prison on Thursday.
Background
It can be recalled the home of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott was allegedly attacked on three separate occasions by unknown assailant (s) for reasons that have never been established by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and other law enforcement agencies.
On the first and second attacks, Justice Scott alarmed and reported to the LNP and the Ministry of Justice that her home was attacked on two separate occasions, but no items were stolen. The police later admitted to the former Chief Justice’s assertion following public pressure and they had instituted an investigation before the third attack took place that led to the alleged murder of Justice Scott’s niece/daughter, Charloe Musu. There are reports that she was stabbed multiple times by the mystery attacker.
