By Grace Q. Bryant
The Criminal Court “C” Judge Blamo Dixon has issued a writ of Summon on the Management of the FrontPage Africa Newspaper Managing Editor, Rodney D. Sieh and others for Criminal Contempt of Court.
The Management of Frontpage Africa is expected to appear before the court for Montserrado county on June 13, to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court”
“You are hereby commanded to summon the Management of the FrontPage Africa Newspaper by and thru its Managing Editor, Rodney D. Sieh, Lennart Dodoo, Newsroom Editor, Selma Lormax, Reporter, Henry Karmo, Reporter, Gerald C. Koinyeneh, Reporter, Christopher C. Walker, Reporter, Kadi Coleman Porte, Business Manager, Caroline Tanneh Ghartey. Business/Advertising, Albert C. Blamo, Production Manager, and all persons acting under the scope and Authority of the FPA Newspaper,” the court ordered
According to the writ, the defendants are summoned to show cause why the defendants should not be held in Criminal Contempt of Court and to establish and prove where and who received and splashed the “US$500,000 around judicial circles to influence the Jury” in the US$100 Million Cocaine case that was heard, determined and disposed by court as reported in the May 19, 2023 edition of the FrontPage Africa Newspaper.
“You are hereby further commanded to serve this writ of summons for criminal contempt of court on the above-named defendants and have your official returns endorsed on the back of the original copy of this writ of summons indicating form and manner of its service and for so doing this shall constitute your legal and sufficient authority,” the court mandated.
It can be recalled that the FrontPage Africa in its May 19, 2023 edition lead story captioned, “Shock verdict: All Defendants Acquitted in high-stakes cocaine. Trial, Raising Doubts on Liberia’s Justice System” stating that the jury verdict comes as a big shock to many who are familiar with the bust as multiple sources confirmed to FrontPage Africa that a sum of US$500,000 was splashed around judicial circles to influence the jury.
Adding that, “A diplomatic source speaking to FrontPage Africa on condition of anonymity noted that serious attempts will be made by US authorities to arrest the accused as the US has lost trust in the judicial system in Liberia.
According to the report, Judges reportedly solicited bribes to try cases, grant bail to detainees, award damages in civil cases, or acquit defendants in criminal cases.
The report further that defense attorneys and prosecutors reportedly directed defendants to pay bribes to secure favorable decisions from judges, prosecutors, and jurors or to have court staff place cases on the docket for trial.
Some judicial officials and prosecutors appeared subject to pressure, and the outcome of some trials appeared to be predetermined, especially when the accused persons were politically connected or socially prominent.
