Fish Town, River Gee – In a significant legal development, the Paramount Chief of Netuajah Chiefdom, Toubo Administrative District, River Gee County, Mr. Levi Tarwily, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail by the 15th Judicial Circuit Court for River Gee. The sentencing was handed down by Circuit Court Judge His Honor Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh after Mr. Tarwily was found guilty of interfering with the administration of justice in a statutory rape case.
The case revolved around a statutory rape suspect whose case was reported to the Toubo Magisterial Court. Under the law, the crime of statutory rape falls beyond the jurisdiction of magisterial courts, but magistrates have the authority to issue writs and transfer such cases to the Circuit Court for trial.
However, it was alleged that when the case was reported to Magistrate John Slopaw, he attempted to issue a writ of arrest for the accused. Paramount Chief Tarwily intervened, preventing the court from taking further action and went as far as extracting statements from the accused, the 12-year-old victim, and the victim’s parents at his paramount chief compound in Toubo Sweaken. Subsequently, the accused fled the area.
Unsatisfied with the Paramount Chief’s interference in the case, Magistrate Slopaw filed a complaint with Circuit Judge Wesseh. Judge Wesseh promptly convened a conference, attended by Mr. Tarwily, County Superintendent Hon. Philip Q. Nyenueh, and Head of the Traditional Council of Chiefs of River Gee Chief James Pah Sayee. During this meeting, Mr. Tarwily openly admitted to investigating the suspect and extracting statements from involved parties.
The court’s appointed amicus curiae, County Attorney for River Gee Atty. Fofie Kamara, County Defense Lawyer Atty. Amos Nyenator, and County Inspector Mr. Paul C. Brook all acknowledged Mr. Tarwily’s wrongdoing but requested the court to show mercy.
However, after the conference, Judge Wesseh found Mr. Tarwily in contempt of court for repeatedly interfering in criminal matters. In an effort to uphold the constitutional mandate of the Judiciary and the doctrine of separation of powers, Judge Wesseh ordered Mr. Tarwily’s detention for 30 days at the Fish Town Central Prison as a deterrent.
Upon hearing the verdict, Court Superintendent praised the court for protecting its image and the doctrine of separation of powers. He issued a stern warning to all local government officials, urging them to refrain from interfering in criminal matters and to exercise their responsibilities in their respective chiefdoms with caution.
The sentencing of the Paramount Chief sends a strong message about the importance of respecting the separation of powers and the rule of law within Liberia’s legal system, emphasizing that no one, regardless of their position, is above the law.
