By Grace Q. Bryant
The Monrovia City Court has accepted into evidence a photocopy of what is to be considered the Collaborating Political Parties’ (CPP) Framework document.
Judge Jomah Jallah’s action comes against the decision of the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) Davidetta Browne Lansanah, who was subpoena on Monday to produce and testify to the framework document of CPP, produced a photocopy to the court.
Many persons have thought that the original copy of the CPP’s framework document was filed to the NEC following the Farmington meeting and it would have been displayed to put to end the hullabaloo about the framework but to the dismay of many and even the court, Chairperson Lansanah presented a photocopy.
According to the NEC boss, her presentation of that copy of the framework document to the court was on grounds that it was the exact document filed with the Commission by the opposition Collaboration.
Prosecution gave notice to the court that the document was in its photocopy form instead of the original as requested and thereby drawing the Judge attention to ask the witness whether or not she observed that the document was a photocopy.
Witness Lansanah told the court that all political parties and alliances are only required to submit documents before the National Election Commission whether a photocopy or an original copy.
Prosecution also observed disparities in the dates and the notarization of the document as one carried the filing date to be July 10, 2020 and the notarization date to be July 14, 2020 and she was again asked if she observed such disparities about the dates mentioned.
The Government lawyers also inquired as to whether the NEC based its interactions with political parties and alliances to accept photocopies from them but the NEC boss informed the court that she cannot speak to instruments that are before the Supreme Court for determination.
The State prosecutors also noticed that the document filed by Alternative National Congress (ANC) political leader, Alexander Cummings carries the signatures of Aloysius Toe as the Secretary of the CPP and Senator Daniel Naatehn as its Chairperson.
The NEC boss was further quizzed whether the elections management body at any stage received a notification from the CPP that Senator Naatehn had taken on the chairmanship of the Collaboration at the time he filed the document in question but Madam Lansanah answered that political parties and alliances have the right to file.
However, the document produced by the NEC chairperson was accepted and finally marked by the court based on prosecution’s submission which was not objected to by the defense.
The prosecution’s contention was that said document should not be mark because being that it is the only copy before the NEC or records at the NEC, and by doing so will mean that there is no record before NEC on political parties’ collaboration.
The court rejected the State legal team’s argument on grounds that the document is an instrument of crimes and that it is only meant for the trial after which it will be turned over to the Commission.
However, while being cross examined by the defense lawyer, Madam Lansanah stated that the document presented to the court was original thereby prompting defense to rest on questioning the witness.
Prosecution is represented by Saymah Syrennius Cephus, Cllr. Jonny Momo, Cllr. Augustine Fiayah, Cllr. Gloria Musa- Scott, Cllr. Cole Bangalu, Cllr. Mohammed Sirleaf and others while representing the defense are the Heritage Partner and Associates headed by Abrahim Sillah.
