This paper has reliably gathered that the Ministry of Justice has granted compassionate leave to convict Gloria Musu Scott and all co-defendants.
While it is not unusual to grant a prisoner compassionate leave, legal minds are still uncertain about the conditions under which she is being temporarily released from prison.
If the report is anything to be true, many legal pundits believe that this action might be based on a decision of ‘tampering justice with compassion’ because she is not undergoing life threatening condition as a convict, though it is no secret that she has close ties with the current administration.
Global standards regarding reasons to grant compassionate leave says it would depend on whether or not the prisoner still had a life-threatening condition and as the laws of that state mandates; yet, if they are 100% recovered, they usually would be sent back to prison-all at taxpayer expense.
But that is not the case with Scott as her request for compassionate leave was granted to go to access losses and damages done on her property and more troubling, they are going to use taxpayers’ money to facilitate her leave and provide her the needed security.
However, those who studied and practice law explained that according to the law of Liberia, the Minister of Justice has the prerogative to grant an inmate ‘whatever’ compassionate leave, once deemed fit.
Justice Musu Scott, 70, along with three female relatives, were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her niece, Charloe Musu.
The decision was rendered by Judge Roosevelt Willie of Criminal Court A, following a jury’s decision which found Musu Scott and all co-defendants guilty of orchestrating the intentional and malicious infliction of severe bodily injuries on 29-year-old Charloe last June.
Justice Musu Scott and her relatives are currently at the Monrovia Central Prison awaiting the Supreme Court to hear of an appeal filed by team of lawyers led by Augustine Fayiah.
According to reports, the former Chief Justice requested permission to visit her home, which was reportedly burglarized.
Her temporary release is based on series of communications between the Director of Prisons at the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation, S. Sainleseh Kwaidah, and officials at the Ministry of Justice for a compassionate leave.
In one of the communications dated May 20, 2024, Director Kwaidah, informed Cllr. Swaliho Sessay, County Attorney of Montserrado County, that the request was granted.
The communication read, “… raises the concern for Inmate [Gloria] Musu Scott to be provided an escorted visit to make an appropriate inventory of losses and damage done to her home by intruders,” Kwaidah said.
Inmate Musu Scott was jointly convicted and sentenced to life on January 9, 2024 for the crime of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and False Report to Law Enforcement Officials.
In another letter dated June 11, 2024 and addressed to the Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Justice, Massah Jallabah, the prison director requested the sum of US$226 to provide them an escort.
“We present our compliments and request your indulgence and approval for funds for an escort team of Correction and LNP officers to undertake the compassionate leave requested by inmate Gloria Musu Scott to visit her home to conduct an appropriate inventory of losses and damage done by intruders… In view of the above, we request your approval of Two Hundred Twenty-six Thousand United States Dollars (USD 226.00) to carry on the exercise,” the communication mentioned.
When contacted, Kwaidah did not confirm or deny the information or question the authenticity of the documents.
In February, Musu Scott’s defense lawyers and family reported unknown men breaking into her Virginia residence and took away materials and at the time, the intruders were arrested with the help of community members who called the police, and they were later taken to a local police depot, Zone 6 Base in Virginia.
It was also alleged that the intruders took several items, including a flat-screen TV, rice, oil, and construction materials, among others.
During the trial in Criminal Court A, the defense give notice to the court that some unknown persons were still accessing the Justice’s compound and taking away items.
