Monrovia – Women Voices Newspaper Editor, Helen Nah, has been cleared by the Monrovia City Court after her accuser, the United Bank of Africa failed to pursue its allegations against her.
In May 2015, the Liberia National Police effected the arrest of the publisher of the Women Voices Newspaper, Madam Nah for what the Police called money laundering and criminal facilitation for wiring over US$30,00 from accounts of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) situated on Crown Hill, Broad Street.
The Police alleged that the WV Managing Director wired the money through dubious means with the assistance of a Nigerian friend. Madam Nah was arrested and placed in common cell at the headquarters of the LNP on Capitol Hill.
case was taken to the Monrovia City Court for hearing , but since then , the UBA Bank is yet to appear in court to prove its case as alleged by authorities of the LNP.
Due to the failure of the bank to follow up the case for nearly a year ago, court document reveals that presiding Judge of the Monrovia City Court, J. Kennedy Peabody has dismissed all charges levied against Helen Nah by the Police and accordingly has issued her an official Certificate of Acquittal.
The granting of the Clearance further proved that the bank had no case against the female publisher as crimes are not transferable.
Moreover, the acquittal is a clear manifestation that Police Director Massaquoi criminal charges levied against the female Publisher was a calculated plan to bring her to public disgrace as a result of a publication during the Ebola crisis involving the Police administration and its junior officers.
The Women Voices reported during the heat of the Ebola scourge that juniors officers were not receiving the required monthly stipends and according to the officers, the Police authorities were giving them US$15 instead of US$30.
The junior officers accused their bosses of eating their money. When Police spokesman Sam Collins was contacted, he admitted the protest from junior officers concerning their monthly stipends.
Few days later, Police Director Chris Massaquoi extended an invitation via mobile phone to the publisher of the Women Voices to appear at the Headquarters of the LNP on Capitol Hill for what he called a conference.
Madam Nah then informed the President of the PUL, Jallah Kamara and Cllr. Syrenius Cephas , both of whom accompanied the female publisher along with Journalist T. Max Jalateh to the LNP Headquarters.
During the conference, director Massaquoi accused the WV publisher of using her media institution to destroy him by using his photograph on the Front page of the paper in such damaging story.
The Police boss then demanded a retraction of the story, a demand the female media owner vehemently rejected, noting that she stood by her story.
Hence, the Police boss in the presence of the PUL president, Cllr. Cephas and T. Max, threatened unspecified consequences as a result of her action, which he described as gross disrespect to him and the Police authorities.
The dismissal of the case by the Monrovia City Court finally closes this page and allows sleeping dog to lie.
However, the publisher said she is using this occasion to extend heartfelt appreciation to those who stood firmly with her during the period of her arrest and initial appearance in court.
They include her legal team headed by Cllr. Arthur Johnson, Amb. Julie Endee whom she said proved to a friend in deed, family members, WV staffs, friends and above all the Almighty God.