By Grace Q. Bryant
The Criminal Court “C” has granted sequestration of the jury in the ongoing case regarding the alleged trafficking of 520 kilograms of cocaine valued at US$100 million discovered between the Liberian and Sierra Leonean border.
Judge Blamo Dixon yesterday granted prosecution’s request for a jury trial and accepted that they be impounded if they are to sit on the proceedings and make determination but added that their application is premised on the law of jury sequestration and it is not intended to delay the proceedings.
Based on the request made by prosecution, the court ordered the clerk to address a communication to the administrator of the Supreme Court informing her that the prosecution in the proceedings has requested the court for jury sequestration therefore they should put in proper perspective the appropriate mechanism to facilitate the jury sequestration.
According to the four-count indictment, the defendants conspired, colluded, and facilitated to commit the crime of Money Laundering, which is a Felony of the First Degree; Unlicensed Importation of Controlled Drug or Substance, Unlicensed Possession of Controlled Drugs or Substance which are also Felony of the First Degree and Criminal Conspiracy, Felony of Second Degree.
The Grand Jury of Montserrado indictment noted that the act of the defendants is contrary to Section 15.2 of the Money Laundering Act, 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia, and against the peace and dignity of Liberia as well as Section 14.102 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 2014 and 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia.
The indictment also noted that the defendants’ acts are contrary to Sections 107 and 111 of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Acts 2014 and 2.2(b)of the Penal Law of Liberia, and they also hindered 4LCLR Title 26, Section 10.4 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) and 4LCLR, Title 26, Section 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia.
Defendant Makki Ahmed Issam, a resident of Sinkor along with co-defendants Adulai Djibril Djalo and Oliver Allen Zayzay were turned over to the government on October 6, through Lorenzo Pehlam, Deputy Director for Operations, Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for allegedly trafficking drugs between the Liberian and Sierra Leonean borders as well as money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
The Government of Sierra Leone arrested and turned over to its Liberian counterpart the three men who were allegedly involved in the shipment of some 520kg of cocaine valued at one US$ 100 million.
