The Monrovia City Court has denied the application to televise the trial against the ANC’s political leader, Alexander Cummings.
Judge Jomah Jallah, in a ruling on the motion Wednesday said consistent with rule 11 of the Judicial Canon of Liberia, it will be an irreversible error by the court to grant the prosecution application to have the trial televised.
He maintained that rule 11 of the Judicial Canon provides that it is unlawful for a judge to accept a loan or mortgage having no investment interest.
According to the Monrovia City Court Judge, it is also improper for a judge to conduct a newspaper cordon or comment on current news items and matters of general interest.
Judge Jallah further stated that it is inappropriate for a judge to permit live broadcast as well as the taking of photographs in court during court proceedings.
Judge Jallah’s decision came when the prosecution lawyer headed by Cllr. Syrenius Cephas prayed the court to allow the proceedings to be televised so that Liberians in and outside the country can be able to have a view due to its crucial nature.
But in resistance of the motion, defense counsel Abrahim Sillah, objected to the request on grounds that there is no law or procedures in the criminal court of Liberia to prescribe the ways or means a televised trial should be heard.
According to the defense, there is no new law that calls for said televised process noting that it has never taken place in any criminal proceeding in a court and that it would further create unnecessarily spending on the part of government.
“The Legislature has not created any law for that, and the provision of the Constitution was wrongfully cited by the prosecuting lawyer,” Cllr. Sillah Maintained.
“The right to speedy trial is reserved for the defendant to ensure a speedy trial, but did not in any way provide for speedy trial to be televised,” Cllr. Sillah further explained.
He craved the indulgence of the court to deny the motion which he believed was intended to politicize the proceeding.
Speaking to a team of judicial reporter’s minutes after the court ruling, Sillah said the charges levied against Cummings and others are well planned, calculated and intended to damage their hard earned reputations.
Cllr Sillah further maintained that he is confident about Cummings’ character, adding that the actions by the All Liberian Party is intended to bring Cummings down to their level while inquiring from prosecution a copy of the CPP Framework document, WhatApp exchanged messages between the both heads as well as email trails, among other things.
Meanwhile the ANC political leader Cummings, Secretary General Aloysius Toe and Daniel Naatehn have all pleaded not guilty following the reading of the writ of arrest by the clerk of court.