— Warns Justice Ministry; As Case Continues Tomorrow, April 4

By: Jacqueline Dennis

IPNEWS-Monrovia: Judge Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court ‘C’ on Monday April 3, 2023, warned the Ministry of Justice which represents the State in the alleged US$100 million Cocaine Case to provide sufficient fuel for the bus designated to ferry the defendants to and from the Monrovia Central Prison to the Criminal Court ‘C’ to ensure they are brought to court on time and without delay.

Judge Blamo revealed that the Court received information that it was the Correction Officers who put money together to buy one gallon of fuel for the said bus, cautioning the prosecution should take note and act accordingly.

However, the case was called for hearing Monday and the prosecution sixth witness should have taken the witness stand. But the prosecution informed the court that their witness who should have taken the stand suddenly fell ill and could not appear in court.

The prosecution said they have spoken to the hospital authority but was informed that the witness will be okay. So based on that the prosecution prayed for continuance into the case for tomorrow, Tuesday April 4, 2023.

This is the second time the prosecution has asked for continuance on the same witness believed to be prosecution sixth witness. The sixth witness should have taken the stand on Thursday March 31, 2023 but the prosecution informed court that their witness was not ready so they prayed for continuance up to Monday, April 3, 2023.

The State has been represented by the Ministry of Justice Cllr. Bobby Livingstone, Cllr. Fodayee Blama, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan – Solicitor General Republic of Liberia, Cllr. D. Adolphus Karnuah II, and Cllr. Amos K. Sembay

While the defendant are also represented by Cllr. M. Wilkins Wright, Cllr.  Willington G. Bedell Sr. Cllr Eugene I. Massaquoi, Cllr. Richard Scott, Jr. and Cllr. James M. Kumeh.

After the prosecution submission to the court the defense resisted to the prosecution submission and informed the court that the illness of the witness is valid for continuance. The defense observed that on the indictment the prosecution has listed the total of eight witnesses and five have already testified thereby leaving three others to take the stand.

The defense said, assuming arguendo that the information prosecuting attorney is true that one of its witness is ill, which the defense does not dispute, nevertheless there are two other witnesses out of the eight that could have taken the stand today, April 3, 2023 and more besides the name of the witness that is said to be ill name was not disclosed to the court which defense said creates a doubt.

The defendant Malam Conte, Adulai Djibri Djalo, Makki Admeh Issam and Oliver A. Zayzay were indicated for the alleged crime Money Laundering, Unlicensed Possession of Controlled Drug, Unlicensed Importation of Controlled drug and Criminal Conspiracy.