Liberia’s Solicitor General Suspended from Trial of Former Chief Justice Gloria Scott
By staff writer.
Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Willie has with immediate effect suspended Liberia’s Solicitor General Nyenti Tuan from further prosecuting the former Chief Gloria Musu-Scott and her family who are on trial for murder and other offenses.
Judge Willie took the decision on Monday, September 18, 2023 after a formal complaint was filed by the Judiciary’s Court Administration against Cllr. Tuan for secretly entering the premises of the Temple of Justice during the night hours (8:00PM), moved to the Jurors’ quarter and interacted with officers of the Liberia National Police who were assigned to protect the Jurors from interference and manipulation.
Judge Willie also fined Cllr. Tuan an amount of US$250.00 to be paid in the Judiciary Account within 72
hours or three days, effective as of the date of the ruling.
Judge Willie’s decision comes after a chambers conference on allegation that the Solicitor General, Cllr. Nyenti
Tuan entered the premises of the Temple of Justice at 8:00pm with several
police officers, while Trial Jurors were being sequestrated.
He stated, “on September 15, 2023, a communication subject: NIGHT ENTRY OF THE
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE PREMISES sent to the Court Administrator copy of
which was forwarded to this Court to conduct an Investigation and take the appropriate legal action, said investigation was conducted.”
He continued: “in the said report, the
Judiciary Security Officers stated that the Solicitor General, Cllr. Nyanti Tuan
entered the Temple of Justice premises at 8:00pım and deliberated with the Police
officer assigned at the Jury Quarter but did not interact or interfere with any of the Jurors.
Accordingly and although, the case had been assigned for the same Monday,
September 18, 2023, it was suspended and the parties, meaning, the Prosecution
and Defense Teams were cited into the Judge’s Chamber and after reading the
Investigation Reports from both the Jury Management and that of the Judiciary
Security Services, the alleged offender, Cllr. Nyanti Tuan, Solicitor
General of the Republic Liberia was ordered to comment on the said Report.
When reacting to the report, Cllr. Nyanti Tuan told the Court that indeed, he visited
the premises of the Temple of Justice on the day and date as stated in the
Investigation Report along with some officers of the Liberia National Police but it
was around 5:30-6:00pm but not 8:00pm.
According to the Solicitor General, he
met with the Judiciary Security Services assigned at the gate and the Judiciary’s security escorted him (Tuan) is to interact with his officers
assigned at the Jury Quarter but he did not interact neither did he interfere with any
of the Jurors.
According to him, he wanted to advise his officers for them to be
vigilant and careful in their duty at the Jury Quarter because, he did not want to
experience the same situation that occurred with the US$100million Dollars drugs case
that was heard in Criminal Court ‘C’ wherein the Government lost that case.
The Solicitor General further stated that they got last minutes information concerning
the trial jurors that were sequestrated during the 100million dollars drug case
which was not favorable for the government and the Trial Jurors who were
sequestrated and brought down a NOT GUILTY VERDICT in favor of the
Defendants.
Upon listening to the Solicitor General, Cllr. Nyanti Tuan admittance to coming
to the premises of the Temple of Justice at that odd hours without any notice to the
Court, along with police officers, the Court ruled that Cllr. Nyanti Tuan be
suspended from further taking part in the trial as one of the Government lawyers;
and fined an amount of USS250.00 to be paid in the Judiciary Account within 72
hours or three days, effective as of the date of this ruling.
The Court further ruled
that the officers in persons of: Amos Korkollie, Titus Massah, Webster J. Paye and
Lassana Liazolu presently assigned at the Jury Quarter with whom the Solicitor
General interacted are hereby expelled from further forming part of the security
team assigned at the Jury Quarter.
Judge Willie ordered the clerk of court to write
Inspector General of Liberia National Police to forward the names of the four police officers to the Court.
Meanwhile, the Judge reassigned the case to continue with the trial.
To the ruling of the Judge, the both parties excepted and gave notice that they will take
advantage of the law controlling.
