By Grace Q. Bryant
The Minister of Justice, Frank Musa Dean, is appealing to the President Pro-tempore, Albert T. Chie, to discharge the Secretary of the Liberian Senate, J. Nanborlor F. Singbeh, from his official functions pending the full disposition of his criminal proceedings.
In a communication addressed to Pro-tempore Chie, Cllr. Dean stated that the appeal is so that Singbeh is not allowed to influence the trial while serving the government and the public as Secretary of the Liberian Senate.
“Our request is made in good faith as anything short of this may dilute the essence of free and impartial criminal trial which is not to convict but to ensure that justice is heard and also anything to the contrary may be considered smokescreen and deem under the subterfuge of rendering a free and impartial trial,” Cllr. Dean explained.
According to him, all defendants including Singbeh who are currently serving as Secretary of the Liberian Senate were investigated by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for Economic Sabotage, Theft of Property, Criminal Conspiracy and Criminal Facilitation after which they were jointly indicted by the Government of Liberia for prosecution.
“This case is now before Criminal Court “C” in Montserrado County and has been scheduled to be tried during this May 2021Term of Court after the conclusion of a pretrial disposition, therefore prosecution has requested the court for an assignment in this cause of action,” the Attorney General maintained.
He added that as Attorney General of Liberia along with Cllr. Sayma S. Cephus, the Solicitor General of Liberia had recused themselves from the case as they represented the private prosecutors in the criminal proceedings while in private practice and as such, “The responsibility to prosecute the aforesaid case has been passed over.”