By: Jacqueline L. Dennis
The Civil Law Court ” B” Judge Ousman F. Feika, on Tuesday January 10, 2023 has begun hearing into a 16.7 acres of a Land dispute case involving the Modern Development and Management Corporation (MDMC), thru it managing Director, John S. Youboty and some residents of the township of Johnsonville, Musa Kamara, Netty Nyanneh
The plaintiff John S. Youboty was represented by Abrahim B. Sillah, and Atty Sagie B. Famara, while the defendants were also represented by Cllr. Amara A. Kenneth and Cllr. Swaliho A. Sesay.
Prosecution first witness John Youboty
During the day hearing prosecution first witness John Youboty, informed the court that there was a dispute over the property, before its acquisition by the defendants of the Township of Johnsonville in Mount Barclay.
According to him in 2011, they decided to look for a piece of Land (property) to construct their Asphalt Plant for road construction in Liberia, indicating that they went to Mount Barclay where the said area at the time was completely in bush.
He said “We asked question to people around and they were directed to one Siafa Bright, and he told his parents that land is in Mount Barclay for 75 years from the Bertie family, Bright being truthful he told us to go to the Bettie family, and the family told us that they own the property.”
Witness Youboty further informed the court and the jurors that the Family of Bettie told them that they own the said land. It was not in their possession until within few years.
He lamented that, the Bettie Family told them that there was a matter before the Supreme Court over the same land issues between they the Bettie’s Family and Berry family. So after few months later they visited the family of Bettie’s and the family said they won the case at the Supreme Court level so the land was now theirs.
He said that the first land they bought from them was five (5) acres in 2013. The same 2013, they bought 10 acres from the Bettie Family. And last one in the same 2013 they bought 1.35 acres of land.
Witness Youboty said that “in 2014 Ebola crises came but prior to that we had clear certain area to leave our mark on the land because the purpose of that was to build an Asphalt Plant and establish real estate there and so we clear certain area to leave our mark.”
He said his lawyers then wrote to inform the defendants to stop but instead of stopping they kept on building on the property, since they could not work they were advised that they proceed to court and that is why they are in court.
