Presiding Judge of the Commercial Court at the Temple of Justice, Judge Eva Mappy Morgan has indefinitely suspended the US$10.7 million debt case filed by Lebanese businessman George E. Haddad & the Alliance and Prestige Motors against the Liberian Government.
It can recalled the commercial court in 2015 ruled for the opening of trial on the matter even though the Action of Debt case filed by the Alliance and Prestige Motors, representing an American and German auto dealer in Monrovia with the commercial court for the government of Liberia continuous refusal to pay for vehicles and spare parts supplied it since 2003 and up to March 2008, since 2014.
Since then, the case has had series of legal setbacks, including two separate assignments issued by the court but failed to take off based on the inability of the court to hold its hearing at those periods even though assignments had been issued.
However, following nine months of legal arguments between state lawyers and Prosecution on the merits and demerits on the jurisdiction of court to hear & trail such matter before it, the commercial court than ruled the US$10.7 million debt case to trial.
Additionally, last month, the court ordered an assignment for hearing on November 21, 2017, but failed, and a subsequent assignment on December 1, also failed. Court official told a crowded courtroom, that lawyers will be inform on the new date for hearing.
The Commercial Court was established 2011 by the National Legislature as a specialized court to adjudicate cases arising of commercial transactions, since the Debt Court is limited in its financial scope of jurisdiction.
The debt case has generating huge interest in the international community, especially among the German and American companies which supplied the vehicles and spare parts to the Alliance Motor and Prestige Motor in Monrovia.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), has made frantic effort to easy Liberia’s domestic debt burden but the country remains hugely indebted.
The IMF recently again assisted the Liberian Government under its Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program, with yet another US$20.7 million intended to settle domestic debts.
