One of the defendants in the ongoing treason trial, Retired Lt. General Charles G. Julu, Sr., has testified in Criminal Court ‘A,’ Temple of Justice, saying knows nothing about a coup plot nor has any knowledge of a plan to overthrow the Ellen-led administration.

	• Charles G. Julu, Sr.

Taking the Witness Stand Wednesday, Defendant Julu told the court that on July 16, 2007, a group of National Security Agency (NSA) agents whisked him from his residence and informed him that he had links to a coup plot.

Julu who appeared rather relaxed, explained that he was charged and placed behind bars at the Monrovia Central Prison.

“I was charged with treason and put in jail at the Monrovia Central Prison. This is all I can say”, the former AFL Chief of Staff told the Court.

Lt. Gen. Charles Julu and former AFL Colonel Andrew Dorbor (both retired) are on trial for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Unity Party led administration.
This is the second time he is testified to alleged involvement in the reported plan to unseat the Ellen-led government.

During the first phase of the trial, retired Lt. Gen. Charles Julu and Col. Andrew Dorbor testified. A ‘guilty verdict’ was brought down against them 12 men empanelled Jury, but defense took exception and the judge granted a second trial.

The Defense team resisted the guilty verdict and took an appeal to the Supreme Court where a decision to have the case retried was reached. Prosecuting lawyer in the ongoing treason trial involving Gen. Charles Julu and Col. Andrew Dorbor yesterday failed to present the testimonies of its two foreign witnesses in court.

The witnesses who are members of the Ivorian Security Agency were identified to testify against the defendants Julu and Dorbor by lawyers representing the Liberian government in the ongoing treason trial of the allege plot by the accused to overthrow the Ellen-led government.

Appearing in court yesterday, April 15, 2008, the government lawyers led by Montserrado County Attorney Samuel Jacobs could not present the deposition records nor report to the Court but presented a document containing the investigation conducted on defendant Dorbor by the Ivorian Security when he (Dorbor) was arrested in that country.

The prosecution then requested the court to spread said document as evidence against the defendants; but his request was resisted by lawyers of Julu and Dorbor on grounds that the investigative report was not the issue rather disposition.

However, the investigative report was submitted to the Court to form a coherent part of the proceedings, but not as evidence. Accordingly, the prosecution told the Court that the deposition for which the Prosecution earlier traveled to the Ivory Coast was not obtained.

It was established that the two Ivorian security officers identified as Wright Duoll Foss and Taipe Kassarate refused to cooperate with the State lawyers who also traveled along with a member of the Defense Team, Atty. Lofen Keneah.

The government has spent over US$6,000 for the trip to the Ivory Coast without bringing the most needed testimonies in order to use same as evidence against the defendants.

The government of Liberia on April 7, 2008 dispatched its team of lawyers including a lawyer from the defense team of Julu and Dorbor with the purpose of documenting testimonies of the two Ivorian security men but returned on April 11, 2008, without a deposition report.

However, the trial continues today with the Prosecution expected to rest its witness in the entire proceedings.

Minister Bropleh In ‘US$200,000’ Crisis

Members of the Lower House of Parliament at Tuesday Regular Session yesterday, overwhelmingly voted to summon Information Minister, Dr. Lawrence Bropleh to appear before Plenary to show cause why he should not be held in contempt for allegedly misusing US$200,000 reportedly given to him by the Robert Johnson Foundation.

	• Dr. Lawrence Bropleh

The decision to summon Minister Bropleh followed a communication addressed to the Plenary by Representative Evan Koah of Nimba County.

In his communication, he alleged that the minister received US$360,000 from the Robert Johnson Foundation for the lease of the Kendeja Cultural Center on the Robertsfield Highway for the construction of a Four Star Hotel.

According to the Nimba County lawmaker, Mr. Bropleh admitted in a local daily that the US$200,000 was taken by the Ministry of Information to build a new culture center as well as facilitate the relocation of the Kendeja School Complex. He quoted Bropleh as saying that the remaining US$160,000 was deposited in government revenue.

Upon reading the communication, several lawmakers excepted to the manner and form in which Dr. Bropleh and his ministry handled the money for the lease agreement with the Robert Johnson Foundation.

The lawmakers described said such is an act of corruption, and as such want him to give full account. Some lawmakers doubt the reality that the money in question is used for the building a new culture center as well as the relocation of the Kendeja School Complex.

They have accordingly expressed need to have Dr. Bropleh disclose how the amount was applied. One lawmaker who claims to live within the vicinity of Kendeja confided in this paper that the Liberian government wanted each Kendeja dweller given a relocation package of US$1,000.

Instead of this, he claimed that the Minister willfully gave some residents amounts as low as US$300, 400, 500. Recently, students of the Kendeja High School went on the rampage and destroyed down a vehicle belonging to dismissed Assistant Information for Culture, Mr. Jawee Quaye. They students protested their being out of school since the government took over Kedneja.

President Johnson-Sirleaf visited the community and told the students that their action was wrong, even-though they were entitled to education and government was under obligation to provide education for them.

She also expressed dismay at the slow pace with the work was being done, noting that the Minister of Information and his crew were not giving her accurate information, and even declared that “heads would roll.” True to that, she relieved Assistant Minister Quaye of his post and ordered an investigation.

Commenting on the invitation from the House of Representatives, Mr. Bropleh says he will show up to explain, but he has requested the house to postpone the day because of his engagement with other activities.

According to him, he has written the Speaker and registered his concern about conducting the investigation in the public as it could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.