By Grace Q. Bryant
The Commander in Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL), Emmanuel Gonquoi and others have been found guilty of the crimes of Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, Felonious Restraint and Disorderly Conduct.
According to Judge Jomah Jallah’s ruling yesterday, the sentence will be pronounced pending a pre-sentence investigation consistent with Section 31.3 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
In his ruling, Judge Jallah explained that during the pre-trial conference the defendants confessed judgment and pleaded mercy regretting the incident by them on July 28, 2021 on the Capital Building grounds.
He ordered the clerk of the court to conduct a pre-order provided by law in 10 days, therefore one of the defense lawyers accepted and announced to the court to take advantage of the Law controlling.
It can be recalled that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice alleged that during the EFFL protest, they rained insults publicly and intentionally broke the lock before installing their own chains with locks with the intent to terrorize the public, staff, and employees which led the government to file in a complaint against the group to the Stipendiary Magistrate of the Monrovia City Court.
The court then ordered the arrest of the Commander-in-chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia, Emmanuel Gonquoi and others who participated in the protest on the grounds of the Capitol Building.
According to the court documents, the action of the EFFL leader and others is unlawful, wicked, illegal, violent and intentional.
The writ also said that the EFFL members’ action violates sections 11.16 of the amended act, section 14.21 and 17.3 of the new Penal Law of Liberia.