By Grace Q. Bryant
The Judge of the Criminal Court ‘C’ Yamie Gbeisay has ordered the arrest of Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and his Deputy for Expenditure for disobeying the court order.
It can be recalled that on March 9, the court subpoenaed Minister Samuel Tweah and his Deputy for Expenditure to produce the letter of request, voucher and other instruments but did not comply.
” A Writ of Summon was issued upon the orders of the Judge Presiding, served and returned served on the Minister of Finance and his Deputy for expenditure, citing them to appear before this Court on Thursday, March 12, but the honorable Minister and his Deputy for Expenditure have refused and neglected to obey the Writ of Summons, thereby disrespecting and subjecting the court to public ridicule”.
” I can jail anyone who will disrespect the court, only the President of Liberia; I do not have the power to jail but anyone who will disrespect the Court’s order will be sent to the Monrovia Central Prison,” the Judge maintained.
Meanwhile, the defense Lawyers have prayed the Court to order Subpoena on the President of Liberia George Weah to give testimony on behalf of the defendants to the effect that the Government of Liberia, first by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and subsequently by George Weah ,committed itself and undertook to reimburse ,restitute or payback the 1.2million United States Dollars which were withdrawn from the AFL Pension or Welfare Account by defendants on trial on orders and authorization from the Commander-in Chief of AFL.
Defense Lawyers also told the court that President Weah will be requested to confirm the Defendants’ testimonies to show good faith to the commitment of the Government of Liberia, that he President Weah approved and ordered the reimbursement or repayment of a portion of the amount of 460,00. 00USD which was paid by the Ministry of Finance into the Ministry of Defense’s account of confirmation by the defendants would like to make in support of the averment by defendants on the stand.
In resistance, the Prosecution maintained that the application is unconstitutional and unprecedented in the history of Liberia’s Judiciary and therefore it should be denied and dismissed because it violates Article 61 of the 1986 Constitution which states” The President shall be immune from any suits, actions proceedings, Judicial or otherwise and from arrest, detention or other actions on account of any act done by him while President of the Republic of Liberia. Pursuant to any provision of this Constitution or any laws of the Republic. The President shall not however be immune from prosecution upon removal from office for the commission of any criminal act done while President”.
According to the court the ruling is reserved to be delivered tomorrow, same being the 13th of March.
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