Liberia’s Solicitor General Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe has frowned on the House of Representatives of the National Legislature for their contempt charges levied against Justice Minister Philip A. Z. Banks, for his alleged refusal to meet two Bong County lawmakers who went to visit him at his office.
Cllr. Gongloe termed the action of the Lawmakers as an abuse of power with the intent to create misunderstanding between and amongst the three branches of government.
Speaking recently in Monrovia about the action of the lawmakers that subsequently led to a fine of LD$5,000 imposed on Liberia’s Attorney General, Cllr. Gongloe, to have been deposited into government’s revenue, Cllr. Gongloe termed as “abuse, tyrannical and dictatorial” on the part of the lawmakers.
He pointed out that while it is true that the lawmakers has the power to summon and charge private public servants with contempt charges, it should be done in a more organized manner or may soon reflect some thing else.
He stressed that many people have given their lives for the propagation of democracy, with everyone now enjoying some of its fruits, urging that no one should with the concept by unlawfully charging people with contempt.
Cllr. Gongloe, one time human rights lawyer during the fearful days of former President Charles Taylor, furthered that if lawmakers continue to fear individuals who are diligently working for the people and government with contempt, it has the tendency of bringing the three branches of government into disrepute and it may subsequently sent bad signals to the outside world.
He maintained that it was the last time for a Justice Minister to appear before lawmakers without tangible reasons, observing that the constitutional power was being misused and that the practice must stop now.
According to the Solicitor General, summoning individuals on contempt charges should be followed by responsibility, adding, “Not because some one visited a government official and met him busy should constitute contempt charges.
“Are they using the contempt charges to create fear in government officials or get answers from matters of national concern?’, he asked.
Cllr. Gongloe recalled that during the terrified days of former President Taylor, abuse of power by the “dictatorial regime” was spoken against; underscoring that such tendency will not be allowed out of the incessant struggle waged to weed the vices, amidst many deaths of individuals.
Police Officer Testifies in US$500M Cocaine Trial
Says Gov't destroyed 90 barrels of cocaine; Found two emptied
By George J. Borteh
The first prosecution witness, who took the stand yesterday to testify in the ongoing cocaine case at the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice, has told the court that government destroyed 90 barrels of the arrested drugs, along with two empty barrels.
The ongoing trial also involves nine Ghanaian nationals who were arrested for been in possession of 2.4 tones of cocaine.
Witness Sumo K. Akoi who is the Deputy Chief of Narcotic Drugs at the Liberia National Police (LNP), told the court that the Government of Liberia destroyed the drugs in violation of Section 41.23 of the country’s Penal Code on Public Health.
Few months ago, the nine Ghanaians were arrested by troops of the French naval vessel, Touneres, while patrolling Liberia’s territorial waters and were turned over to the Government of Liberia for prosecution under Liberia’s laws.
In his testimony, witness Akoi alleged that a video clip displayed all of the confiscated drugs along with other issues that transpired during the arrest of the accused as evidence and were subsequently turned over to the Government of Liberia by the French troops.
The government witness who told the court that though he was never on board the French vessel that arrested the accused, revealed that the French vessel crew provided him with documents which he considered as documentary evidence about the already destroyed cocaine.
At the same time, the leading counsel for the prosecution team in the said case has told court that the Government of Liberia has sufficient evidence to prosecute the nine cocaine suspects.
Attorney Samuel K. Jacobs alleged that the defendants had been chased from the Ivory Coast to Liberia by the French vessel, until they were arrested on high sea in Liberia.
He told the 15-man empanelled jury, after the court read the indictment to the defendants that the Government of Liberia has in its possession photographs of the Ghanaian vessel with the cocaine on board.
“During this trial, we will offer or show you the jury the vivid evidence that are in the possession of the government”, Atty. Jacobs told the court. Meanwhile, the case continues today with the government’s second witness, Steve Zargo of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) taking the stand.
Trial Judge Emmanuel N. Kollie has advised both lawyers in the ongoing trial to be on time, as the said trial is expected to begin at 8:00 a.m.
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