By Grace Q. Bryant
The Government of Liberia through its legal team represented by Bobby Livingston has delivered some US$113,045 seized from the four alleged suspects in the US$100M cocaine case.
The commitment of the government comes days after Cllr. Micah Wilkins Wright, one of the lawyers representing the acquitted defendants, Malam Conte, Adulai Jibril Djalo, Makki Ahmad Issam and Oliver A. Zayzay, who filed a Bill of Information before Criminal Court “C” over failure on government’s part to pay the amount.
Presenting the cheque to Judge Blamo Dixon Yesterday in the chambers of the Criminal Court “C”, Cllr. Livingston said that the government is in full compliance with the order of the court.
According to Cllr. Livingston, since the Bill of Information was filed before the court on June 14, 2023, the prosecution has not responded to the ruling of the court.
“Counsel says that in a careful review of the records of count one and including count ten of the Bill of Information travel beyond what the count has said to produce the money and therefore should be scratched,” the government’s legal team expressed.
Receiving the cheque, Judge Dixon stated, “The court acknowledged receipt of US$113,045 from the Central Bank of Liberia bearing number 000807010 dated June 21, 2023, from the National Joint Security which is the purpose for onward delivery to the court and paid to the Clerk of the court.”
The Judge revealed that attached to the cheque is an application to payment instrument and a letter from the office of the Deputy Commissioner for Operation with reference #CBL/GOV/MDP/10098/2023, dated June 21, 2023, and addressed to the newly commissioned Solicitor General, Nyanti Tuan.
Judge Dixon, at the same time, ordered the sheriffs, clerk and representatives of both the defense and persecution to withdraw the amount of US$113,045 before the end of the day.
It can be recalled, due to the government’s alleged refusal to refund the money, Cllr. Wright petitioned Judge Dixon on the matter stating therein, “Your Honor is most respectfully requested to take judicial notice of the said petition which forms a cogent part of the records of the case.”
In Cllr. Wright’s petition to the court dated June 14, he explained that on June 1, the mandate of the Justice in Chambers was read and thereafter, the court resumed jurisdiction and immediately ordered the respondent to bring to the court the total amount of US$113,045 on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 3:pm for onward transmission to the defendants through their lawyers.
Cllr. Wright said due to justice’s mandate, the government (respondent) was given 12 days to submit the money to the court.
The 12 days were more than sufficient because all the Ministry of Justice needed to do was to withdraw the amount from the Central Bank since there was evidence that said amount was deposited at the Central Bank, the petitioners contended.
However, the petitioners noted that the Ministry of Justice made no effort within the time allotted to it to withdraw the money from the bank to present it to the court.
