Monrovia – A 38- year old man was jailed for an attempted unlawful sale of two dwarf crocodiles on Thursday, December 15 by the Paynesville Magisterial Court.
The court decision was reached after the accused Samuel Nerday Toweh, could not be represented by a lawyer as is provided by Article 21 ( C) of the 1986 Constitution.
The article among other states that “Every person suspected or accused of committing a crime shall immediately upon arrest be informed in detail of the charges, of the right to remain silent and of the fact that any statement made could be used against him in a court of law. Such person shall be entitled to counsel at every stage of the investigation and shall have the right not to be interrogated except in the presence of counsel. Any admission or other statements made by the accused in the absence of such counsel shall be deemed inadmissible as evidence in a court of law.:
It was based on Toweh’s failure to legal representation led Magistrate William G. Saygah to remand him to the Monrovia Central Prison, where he would be until a lawyer is found for him, to represent his legal interest.
According to court’s documents, on Wednesday, December 14, a joint Wildlife Security Team, comprising the Liberia Special Wildlife Investigation Unit (LSWIU) and Liberia Chimpanzee Recuse and Protection (LCRP ) with support of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) arrested Toweh, in Congo Town Monrovia.
The Liberian National Police (LNP) and the Liberian Revenue Authority (LRA).are also members of the joint security team on wildlife trafficking and sale.
Toweh, a resident of GSA Road Community Paynesville was arrested being in possession of the two dwarf crocodiles and advertising them for sale.
Meanwhile, the dwarf crocodiles were rescued by the joint security, which, according to the team, they (dwarf crocodiles) are internationally endangered species.
A member of the team indicated that the arrest is a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to combat wildlife and the conviction of several other suspected illegal sale of the species
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