By Grace Q. Bryant
The Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) says there is a major press briefing today regarding the death of Charloe Musu as Cllr. Musu Scott, Ma Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, Gertrude Newton and Alice Johnson have all been arrested and detained as suspects.
According to the Ministry, the press briefing will be hosted by the Liberia National Police who will provide a significant update in the ongoing investigation beginning at about 11:00 A.M at the MICAT’s Conference Room.
However, the legal team representing Gloria Scott and others has filed a petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on the Minister of Justice and Liberia National Police which was granted by the court.
Habeas corpus is a recourse in law through which a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment to a court and request that the court order the custodian of the person, usually a prison official, to bring the prisoner to court, to determine whether the detention is lawful.
The suspects are represented Cllr. Negbalee Warner, Cllr. Jonathan Massqoui, Cllr. Augustine Fayiah, Atty Dickson Tamba, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, Female Lawyers Association, Bar Association and others to be identified.
In their petition filed at the Criminal Court ‘C’ Cllr. Augustine Fayiah said on February 22, during the early night hours, the petitioners’ home situated in Virginia was intruded by unknown persons who attacked them thus resulting to the death of the Charloe.
According to them, “That following the incident, Co-Petitioner, Gloria M. Musu-Scott reported the matter to the Police on duty at Brewerville but before this incident, two separate attacks were made which were also reported to the Police.
“That following the above-mentioned incidents, the Police commenced an investigation with the petitioners since February 23, 2023 and petitioners have since been cooperating with Police
Investigation. And that during this investigation, the petitioners that reported the case were under pressure and treated as if they were the culprits,” the petitioned stated.
The petitioners’ lawyers said on Tuesday June, 20, 2023, the petitioners were by way of telephone called to appear and upon appearance, arrested and detained in the presence of their counsels without formal charge.
“That this conduct on the part of the defendants is sufficient to trigger Writ of Habeas Corpus
thereby praying this court to produce the living bodies of who have been held by the Liberia National Police without charge,” the lawyer said.
Petitioners noted that the 48 provided by the Constitution of Liberia 1986 Article
21 says, “Every person arrested or detained shall be formally charged and presented before a
court of competent jurisdiction within forty-eight hours. Should the court determine the existence of a prima facie case against the accused, it shall issue a formal writ of arrest setting out the charge or charges and shall provide for a speedy trial,” and therefore, they informed the court that there shall be no preventive detention as such cannot and will not lie because the investigators have exceeded the threshold.
“Under the circumstances, Writ of Habeas Corpus shall lie as a matter of law as per the dictates
of the Statute and the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia. Article 21 (g)..The right to-
the writ of habeas corpus, being essential to the protection of human rights, shall be guaranteed
at all times, and any person arrested or detained and not presented to court within the period specified may in consequence exercise this right. See also Chapter 16.51 of Title 1, Civil,” the Lawyers concluded.
Meanwhile, the court granting the petitioners’ wish ordered, “You are hereby further commanded to serve this writ of habeas corpus on the within named respondents, together with the copies of the complaint and to inform them to make their official returns to this writ of habeas corpus on or before the above mentioned date and time to notify them that upon their failure to do so judgment will be rendered against them and the relief sought by the petitioner will be granted.”
The Liberia National Police allegedly charged the former Chief Justice and three others verbally in connection with the gruesome death of Charloe.
Scott’s lawyer on Tuesday, June 20 told reporters that the Police prepared a charge sheet linking their clients with Murder, Criminal Conspiracy and giving false statements to law enforcement officers.
The Police invited former Chief Justice Scott who was assisting the LNP in ongoing investigation into the recent attacks on her home after she had shown up at the Police headquarters for questioning but again, the provisional autopsy report in late March 2023 revealed that the late Charloe’s death is suggested to exsanguination, massive left hemothorax and left lung collapse.
However, the son of the former Chief Justice, Nyowo Scott described the arrest of his mother as politically motivated and witchcraft hunt and said the alleged murderers and perpetrators are masquerading the corridors while his mom is been humiliated in police custody.
He wants the Liberian government to find the murderers of Charloe as his mother is innocent of the allegations charges levied against her.
