|
|
Liberia: "Go And Sin No More"
 |
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
The NEWS (Monrovia)
7 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Jimmey C. Fahngon
Monrovia
Two days following the acquittal of retired Armed Forces of Liberia General Charles Julu and Col. Andrew Dorbor, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf seems not be satisfied with the court's decision although she pronounced her acceptance to the judgment.
The President has urged the two men to "go and sin no more" adding that leaves them with their conscience.
Speaking Monday upon her arrival at the Robert International Airport in Margibi County, she said the government provided what she called 'solid evidence' to the court linking the two individuals to subversive activities but the court chose to rule otherwise.
However, President Johnson-Sirleaf said government respects the judgment of the court.
Johnson-Sirleaf: "I leave them with their conscience and say to them, go and sin no more."
She said her government accepts the ruling of the Presiding Judge of Criminal Court "A" Peter Gbenewelleh in which retired General Charles Julu and Col. Andrew Dorbor were acquitted of treason charges.
President Johnson-Sirleaf said the ruling shows that democracy was working in Liberia.
The comments by President Johnson-Sirleaf comes in the wake of similar comments by Justice Minister Philip Banks.
Cllr. Banks questioned the court's judgment and said that the conduct of some judges poses a bigger threat to the nation than armed robbers.
It can be recalled that Criminal Court "A" Judge Peter Gbenewelleh last Friday acquitted Julu and Dorbor on grounds that the government miserably failed to produce evidence for their conviction.
In a final judgment that lasted for more than four hours Friday at the Temple of Justice, Judge Gbenewelleh told the crowded courtroom that prosecution did not establish sufficient evidence beyond reasonable doubts that would warrant a conviction of Julu and Dorbor.
"We shall take recourse to the indictment a portion of which alleges that the defendants on diverse occasions connived, conspired and planned to overthrow the legitimate government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf," he said.
During the trial, Judge Gbenewelleh pointed out that prosecution disclosed that the leadership of the defunct Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) had series of meetings and subsequently set up a committee to seek their welfare.
"Prosecution also claimed that Gen Julu called a meeting at his Congo Town residence, but they said the meeting was not held," the Judge recalled the state's argument during the trial.
|
However, Judge Gbeneweleh stressed that the meeting held by members of the defunct AFL at which time a committee was set up, did not constitute any element of treason.
"The failure of the meeting at Gen. Julu's residence did not disclose to this court the nature since said meeting was never held. Hence, this court says in the absence of the meeting, it cannot be construe as wanting to overthrow the government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf," the court's judgment emphasized.
He indicated that the Liberian statute under chapter 11.1 of the Penal Code clearly provides that any attempt to overthrow the government, mutiny or subversive activities are some elements of treason which the prosecution failed to prove.
I was taken aback when I read the statement made by the former Human Rights Activist, now President of LIberia Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf about the recent non guilty verdict of retired AFL Brigadier General Charles G. Julu and retired AFL Col. Andrew Dorbor. The statement clearly prove those opened minded Liberians who strongly believe that the president is out for revegent, especially against a particular segment of the country. The statement also belied her public pronoucements that under her watch, Liberia will be different.
When the Justice Minister condemned the Judge after the verdict came down, some people thought... [Read Full Text]
The President and her justice Minister are two crazy people. Liberian need to start thinking about her impeachment.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 The NEWS. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
