Monrovia – Activist Vandalark Patricks Wednesday walked out of the Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice as a free man after prosecuting attorneys dropped sedition and libel charges against him.
The lower court’s decision was predicated upon a letter written from the Ministry of Justice under the signature of Montserrado County Attorney, Cllr. Daku Mulbah, stating that the ministry has reached the decision to nolle prose qui the case against Vandalark Patricks.
“The Government of Liberia has exercised its right as provided under Chapter 8 Section 18.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia by dropping all charges against defendant Vandalark Patricks without reservation and that the action is done in good faith and is no way intended to compromise the rule of law in Liberia,” stated the later from the County Attorney.
The Justice Ministry letter surfaced at the lower court when the court was set to rule in a motion filed earlier to the court by Patricks’ lawyer, Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe, to dismiss the indictment against him because it was unconstitutional and the abuse of the rights of the citizens for free speech.
“Movant counsel respectfully requests this court to make it clear to the state that the government has no right to abuse the rights of its citizens and to misuse the court and its resources to bring cases that it is not prepared to proceed with,” said Cllr. Gongloe.
In resistance state lawyer Cllr. Daku Mulbah counter argued that freedom of speech is a constitutional requirement under the law but any abuse of one should be held responsible.
“Freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under the law but one is held responsible for the abuse thereof,” said Cllr. Mulbah.
However, in his ruling Judge Boima Kontoe said that the application made by the state, being consistent with law, the appilication for entry for nolle prosequoi in favor of Vandalark Patricks ought to be granted and the indictment charging him with sedition and criminal libel against the president dismissed.
“Wherefore and in view of the foregoing the indictment against Vandalark Patricks as indicated above is hereby dismissed with no prejudice to the state and the criminal appearance bond posted by the defendant is hereby ordered return to him without delay and his rights as a free citizen of this republic is hereby restored and hereby ordered,” said Judge Kontoe.
Activist Vandalark Patricks was picked up in late February 2016 by plain clothes state security officers at a local intellectual center on Carey Street and taken to the headquarters of the Liberia National Police and later to court where he was indicted for sedition, criminal libel against President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and detained for statements allegedly attributed to him that the President had used lethal force against her political opponents
He was released on bail after spending a week behind bars at the Monrovia Central Prison but indicated that his arrest and detention will not deter him for his advocacy for the empancipation of Liberians from social injustices.
He could not be reached by FrontPage Africa after the charges were dropped. His lawyer promised to speak at a later time.
Another activist, Archie Sarnor, who was also arrested by police during demonstration for the arrest Patricks and has pending charges of simple assault, criminal conspiracy against him says it was laughable that government could dropped charges against Patricks because it had no case to pursue.
“It is laughable for government to say that it has drop libel case against Vandalark Patricks when there was no case for it to pursue, this is a clever tactics” said Sarnor of the Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia.
Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]