As a means of preventing traditional leaders from interfering with Judicial matters, the assigned Circuit Court Judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit Court for River Gee, Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, has jailed the Paramount Chief of Netuajah Chiefdom, Toubo Administrative District in River Gee, Levi Tarwily, for interfering with the administration of justice, by investigating and letting go a suspect, who was reported to the Toubo Magisterial Court on allegation of Statutory Rape.
Under our law, the crime of Statutory Rape is beyond the trial jurisdiction of magisterial courts, but magistrates may issue writs and forward an accused to the Circuit Court for trial.
It was reported that when this case was reported to the Magistrate, John Slopaw, he attempted to issue a writ of arrest on the accused, but the Chief prevented the court from taking siege of the matter, and then extracted statements from the victim (name withheld), aged 12, and her parents, at his compound in Toubo Sweaken, and then made the accused to flee the area.
Not satisfied with the action of the Paramount Chief for investigating a criminal case that was brought before the Magistrate, Slopaw complained to the Circuit Judge, Wesseh, who wasted no time in inviting Tarwily, along with the County Superintendent, Philip Q. Nyenuh, and the Head of the Traditional Council of Chiefs of River Gee, James Pah Sayee, to a conference, in which the paramount openly admitted to investigating the suspect and extracting statements from him and the victim, and her parents.
During the Conference, the Court’s appointed Amicus Curiae, the County Attorney for River Gee, Fofie Kamara, and the County’s Defense Lawyer, Amos Nyenator, and the County Inspector, Paul C. Brook, admitted to the wrong of the chief for interfering in criminal matters, but begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
However, after the conference, there and then, Judge Wesseh held the Paramount Chief in contempt of Court by noting the Chief’s constant habit of investigating criminal matters, as was complained by the magistrate.
The Court therefore said in order to protect the constitutional mandate of the Judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers, the Paramount was held in Contempt of Court and they ordered his detention for 30 days at the Fish Town Central Prison, to serve as a deterrent.
The County Superintendent, Philip Q. Nyenuh, who later entered the court after the contempt proceedings, praised the court for protecting the image of the court and the doctrine of separation of powers, and then warned all local government officials to stop interfering in criminal matters, and to be mindful of how they execute their responsibilities in their various chiefdoms.
