As part of the Presidential tradition each year to pardon individuals convicted of various crimes by the courts of Liberia, President George M Weah has issued an executive pardon to 101 convicts, detained at various prison facilities across the country.
The Presidential Pardon is backed by the 1986 Liberian Constitution, under Article 59, which states inter-alia that “The President may remit any public forfeitures and penalties, suspend any fines and sentences, grant reprieves and pardons, and restore civil rights after conviction for all public offenses, except impeachment.”
The President has mandated the Attorney General, Frank Musah Dean, Minister of Justice, to ensure the unhindered implementation of the Presidential Pardon, in keeping with judicial procedures.
Notable among the 101 pardoned individuals are former National Defense Minister, J Brownie Samukai Jr.; former Deputy Defense Minister for Administration, Joseph P. Johnson; and the former Comptroller, Nyumah Dorkor.
These former government officials are also relieved of their legal obligation to refund to the Liberian Government the money that they were convicted of misappropriating, while serving in their respective capacities at the Ministry of National Defense.
The rest are individuals who were convicted of committing minor offenses by the courts of Liberia and were serving various prison terms, individuals with life-threatening ailments, old age, and individuals who served a substantial amount of the time for which they were sentenced, and demonstrated good behavior while serving their respective sentences.
