—As CDC Demands Release of Detained Partisans
IPNEWS: Promising to raid the judiciary out of corruption upon taking office, Liberia’s Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh has instructed Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie to investigate a purported writ of ‘search and seizure’ targeting former President George M. Weah’s residence and the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) headquarters, which sparked protests in Monrovia on August 22, 2024, sending fear of a potential crisis.
The purported writ allegedly issued by the West Point Magisterial Court without proper authorization, has raised eyebrows casting doubts on the Justice system in light of mounting calls for an overhaul amidst repeated reports of Liberia’s justice being avail to the highest bidder.
Prior to Chief Justice’s mandate for an investigation, report emerged that there were procedural errors in the manner the LDEA obtained the writ of search and seizure, especially with initial reports suggesting that the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) failed to submit the required application and affidavit sparking a denial by the court’s magistrate Jomah Jallah.
Initial report suggest that the Assistant clerk has admitted drafting and signing the writ without authorization of Magistrate Jomah Jallah, neither with the knowledge of the Court’s city solicitor.
Chief Justice Yuoh’s call for investigation, seeks to clarify the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the search and seizure writ, particularly ethical breaches.
Amidst public outrage, Monrovia City Court, presided over by Magistrate Ben Barco, on Monday, August 26, 2024, ordered the detention of several protesters affiliated with the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) for their alleged involvement in a riot that occurred on August 22, 2023. The protesters face multiple charges, including attempted murder.
According to court records, the defendants were present at the scene of the riot near the CDC headquarters in Congo Town. The incident, which began around 9 AM and lasted until 2 PM, involved the defendants blocking the main Tubman Boulevard with tires, sticks, and other objects. When officers from the Liberia National Police (LNP) arrived to disperse the crowd, the protesters reportedly responded by throwing stones, resulting in injuries to both law enforcement personnel and civilians.
The LNP stated that sixteen of its officers, who were assigned to the Police Support Unit (PSU), sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Among the injured officers were Sylvester Lavelah and Jallah M. Japolo, who were critically wounded and are currently receiving treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. Officers Mabutu A. Wiles and Daniel Whennie from the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) also suffered head and neck injuries.
In addition to the injured officers, several civilians, including Doris Dolley, Hannah Gwua, and Cheston Ziah, were wounded during the incident. The rioters also damaged several vehicles, including a Toyota Rav-4 belonging to senior police officer Robert Saah and a Toyota Corolla driven by Mohammed Kamara. A white JMC Co-Star bus belonging to LTC staff was also damaged, with losses estimated at $10,000 USD.
Meanwhile, CDC Secretary General, and former Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee, has repeated calls for an unconditional release of partisans of the CDC who protested the illegal besieged of their party’s headquarter by unauthorized police officers.
Koijee told newsmen that the Executive Committee of the CDC were monitoring developments and will shortly decide next action over the continued detention of its partisans.
