Liberia: COURT DENIES Bail Request to former Vice President JEWEL Howard Taylor

Judge rejects ex-VP’s claim that 2023 drug law can’t apply to her; cites alleged August 2026 cartel payment

TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia – Criminal Court “C” on Thursday denied former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor’s motion to be admitted to bail. The court ruled that the government’s own allegations place her conduct in the cocaine case well after Liberia’s 2023 drug law took effect.

Assigned Circuit Judge Ousman F. Feika held that the fact that the alleged conduct began in 2021–2022 does not, “standing alone,” make the prosecution time-barred. That holds, he said, where the Writ of Arrest alleges, and the prosecution is prepared to prove, that the former vice president’s participation continued through August 2026.

Her lawyers excepted to the ruling and told the court they would take advantage of the remedy provided by statute. That signals a likely challenge before a higher court.

The defense argument

The defense had argued that the key allegations in the Writ of Arrest date to 2021 and 2022: her introduction to alleged traffickers, a meeting at her Congo Town residence and a trip to Dubai. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023 was printed into handbill on July 19, 2023. Her lawyers said prosecuting her under that law would violate Article 21(a) of the Constitution, which bars ex post facto laws.

They also argued that the government is wrongly treating the charges as non-bailable. They said the older Penal Law provisions should govern instead.

The state’s response

Government lawyers countered that Article 21(d) of the Constitution guarantees bail except for capital or grave offenses “as defined by law.” They said the 2023 Act expressly classifies the charged drug offenses as grave and non-bailable. They also argued that the defense’s own exhibit, the Writ of Arrest marked Exhibit “M/1,” alleges the former vice president kept up her ties to the cartel until August 2026. That is when she allegedly received US$15,000.

Judge scolds defense lawyers

Judge Feika agreed with the state. He relied on Section 4.6 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which says a continuing offense is deemed committed when its last act occurs or when the defendant ends her involvement.

He then turned sharply on the defense team. He said the court was “bewildered” that the lawyers had ignored a major part of their own exhibit. That exhibit alleges that she received US$45,000 in Dubai and US$75,000 for her Jewel Star Fish Foundation, and that she again requested and received US$15,000 in August 2026. He called the argument that the conduct was confined to 2021–2022 “foolhardy and preposterous.” He added that the Code of Moral and Professional Ethics for Lawyers prohibits such conduct.

The judge also noted that she is charged with money laundering under the 2021 AML/CFT Act, which lists drug trafficking as a predicate offense. He said alleged laundering transactions through August 2026 fall within the limitation period, even if the money came from conduct that began earlier.

The denial is without prejudice. She keeps the right at trial to contest each element of the charges, whether the conduct was continuing, when her involvement ended, where the money came from, and her criminal intent.

The defense team included Cllr. Kabineh Ja’neh. The Republic was represented by Cllr. Jerry D.K. Garlawolu, Cllr. Richard Scott, Jr. and Cllr. Raph Gould, Sr.

BACKGROUND

Howard-Taylor was arrested on August 19. She was detained at Roberts International Airport while trying to leave Liberia and then taken to Liberia National Police headquarters. Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh announced charges under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act of 2023, the Penal Law and the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law.  

The case grows out of a record cocaine seizure valued at roughly $317–336 million. That seizure implicated senior police officials and set off a wider probe reaching into the police, the National Security Agency and the prison service. 

According to the charge sheet, Sheik Bashiru Kante brought Taras Zadereiko (“Tony”) and Mihovil Vrovac (“Michael”) to Liberia in 2021, and the network later sought relationships with senior officials who could protect its operation. Police allege that she met Croatian national Nikola Ivancic, the alleged ringleader, in Dubai, where using Liberia as a cocaine transit point was discussed. The state does not allege that she physically possessed or transported cocaine. 

She was remanded to Monrovia Central Prison after the Monrovia City Court denied a defense plea for compassionate leave over asthma and high blood pressure. On September 4, Judge Feika ordered her released on medical grounds. He placed her under house arrest, ordered her to surrender her travel documents, and stressed that the order was not an acquittal or a dismissal. A co-defendant, Garpue K. Wonlue, later filed exceptions arguing the judge lacked authority to grant that release. 

On September 17, Magistrate L. Ben Barco granted the defense request to withdraw the preliminary examination. The bail motion decided Thursday had sought to lift her home detention and travel restrictions. Thursday’s denial leaves those conditions in place.  

The former vice president’s Coalition for Democratic Change has condemned the case as harassment and possible political persecution. Lenn Eugene Nagbe, chief of staff to former President Weah, has criticized the government for not yet securing an indictment. The government has stressed that the charges are not a finding of guilt and that she is presumed innocent.