Liberians are said to be raising serious concerns over the Justice Ministry’s decision to meet with family members of defendant Gloria Musu-Scott amidst her appeal pending at the Supreme Court.
In spite of the case still awaiting logical conclusion, it is reported that three days ago, the Ministry of Justice met with the family of defendant Scott, following several weeks of communication to the government regarding the family’s concerns.
It can be recalled that in December of 2023, former Chief Justice Scott and three other members of her family were found guilty and sentence to prison for the crimes of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and raising a false alarm to Law Enforcement Officers.
Jurors in the proceeding came down with a majority “guilty verdict” after reviewing arguments from both the prosecution and defense as well as making their determination in the deliberation room, declaring her guilty for all crimes levied.
Also, On June 12, 2023, the defendants were charged by the Special Grand Jury of Montserrado on allegations of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and giving a false alarm to police.
According to the charge, “The defendant’s actions violated Title 26, chapter 14, section 14.1; Chapter 10, section 10.4; and Chapter 12, section 12.33 of the new penal law of Liberia,” the indictment stated.
According to the indictment, on February 22, 2023, at about 10:00pm, defendant Gloria Musu-Scott, Gertrude Newton, Alice Johnson, and Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, “with criminal intent, armed themselves with a sharp instrument believed to be a knife and pepper spray.”
“They willfully, intentionally, purposely, and maliciously inflicted several bodily injuries on Charlotte Musu, including her chest, right hand, left thigh, and left armpit, leading to her death and thereby committing the crime of murder,” the indictment added.
But the family of Defendant Scott has since taken an assertion to the court ruling which sent a shocked waves across the country, thereby announcing an appeal to the Supreme Court with the aim of taking advantage of the law.
But while the court is yet to look into the appeal, Madam Scott family on Tuesday, May 28, 2924, the Scott family met with some officials of the Ministry of Justice, who assured them that the Government of Liberia will respond to the family’s concerns and issues raised in their communications.
Dozens of family members and friends of defendant Scott’s family on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, stormed the 14th Street offices of the Justice Ministry to demand answers to their numerous communications to the Ministry concerning mistakes and deliberate missteps that characterized the investigation and trial of their family members.
Following thunderous chanting of battle cries, traditional, and religious singing at the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, six members of the family were selected to meet authorities of the Ministry, after which they disclosed that the government, through the Ministry, has vowed to issue an official response.
Among issues raised by the family in their communications to, and meeting with the Ministry of Justice in the last couple of weeks including the date mentioned, they noted, “Mr. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, we have formally brought this matter to you and your office relying on TITLE 12, The Executive Law, Approved: May 11, 1972 and Published: June 9, 1972, § 22.2, which states, inter alia.
“It shall be the duty of the Minister of Justice to procure the proper evidence for, and conduct, prosecute, or defend all suits and proceedings in the courts in which the Republic of Liberia or any officer thereof, as to such officer, is a party or may be interested; institute all legal proceedings necessary for law enforcement,” the communication presented to the office of Attorney General, Oswald Tweh by the family stated.
The communication which the family said is intended to bring to the attention of Minister Tweh what they termed as strange and dangerous occurrences before, during and after the trial of their family members further states that the Criminal Procedure Code of Liberia provides legal tools and mechanisms which authorize the Attorney General through Prosecuting Attorneys to prevent, correct and end the miscarriage of Justice, persecution and cruel and inhumane treatment of persons, such that defendant Scott and three of her family members had gone through and continue to go through.
The family lamented that these are very serious and concerning issues to them that in their state of grief with one life lost, the ongoing political manipulations and persecution with four family members languishing behind bars and the clear intention to disregard the opportunity to continue the investigation to find the killer(s) of Charloe Musu.
The communication therefore, request that the Ministry of Justice, pursuant to its legal authority, do what is honorable by instituting measures and actions to ensure that the Police and the Ministry of Justice will not be tools of political objectives and malicious Prosecution.
The family is also requesting that the Ministry of Justice through the Police conducts an in-depth investigation to establish how the fourth group of intruders, including Blessing Cooper, alias August Jesus, Abraham Jerbo and others got the keys to gain entry on the premises owned by defendant Scott and where Charloe Musu was murdered on February 22, 2023.
But this decision to hold the meeting has since been described by many as an attempt to manipulate justice and influence the outcome of the appeal process amidst defendant Scott’s relationship with the current administration of President Joseph Boakai.
Defendant Scott, prior to her conviction and subsequent detention at the Monrovia Central Prison, has been the Unity Party (UP), the opposition lead lawyer at which time she also won a case involving the UP and opposition Liberty Party (LP) during the heat of the political season in 2023.
Critics argued that the timing of the meeting, while defendant Musu-Scott’s case is still pending before the highest court in the land, raises serious questions about the government’s motives and its commitment to upholding the rule of law.
At the same time, the decision has only fueled suspicions of political interference in the judicial process but critics argue that the government’s actions could undermine the independence of the judiciary and erode public trust in the justice system.
Meanwhile, despite the concerns raised by citizens and as the appeal process continues at the Supreme Court, many are closely watching to see how the case unfolds as the outcome of defendant Scott’s appeal will have far-reaching implications for the country’s justice system and the rule of law and now drawing in the attorney general who should be the chief prosecutor of government.
In the midst of the controversy and uncertainty surrounding the case, one thing is clear: the fight for justice in Liberia is far from over as the Justice Ministry decision has only added to the complexity of the situation, leaving many wondering what the future holds for one of the most high-profile cases in the country’s recent history.
