Sanniquellie, Nimba County — Former Ganta City Mayor Amos N.G. Suah has been released from Sanniquellie Central Prison on Monday, October 5 after being sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined US$100 by the Gompa Magisterial Court for allegedly inciting the public against the court.
By Franklin Doloquee
Magistrate Sam Nya Harris heard the case after summoning Suah on September 24 and proceeding on September 29. Suah’s lawyer entered a guilty plea on his behalf.
The court ordered a 30‑day jail term, a US$100 fine and a public retraction of his statements against the court on three radio stations.
Family says they were not told. Speaking to reporters at their home in Ganta, Suah’s children, Melvin Nya Suah, Amos P.F. Suah and Mercy Suah said the family was not informed about the former mayor’s release and is demanding answers from authorities.
They said they expected Suah to serve the full 30‑day sentence and were surprised to learn he was freed. “Our father was publicly disgraced, handcuffed and taken to Sanniquellie Central Prison to serve 30 days and pay US$100,” one family member said.
“We were not present when he was released; we want the court to tell us where he is.”
The children said they plan to travel to Sanniquellie to locate their father and have called on the public to support them. Unclear whether fine paid or retraction made
Reporters were unable to confirm whether the US$100 fine has been paid or whether Suah has appeared or will appear on the three radio stations to retract his statements as ordered by the court.
Local broadcasts reported that David Door Cooper, described in some accounts as an expelled University of Liberia student and a former superintendent, announced on community radio that the court would release Suah.
Residents and local sources have questioned Cooper’s authority to make that announcement; his role has not been independently verified. Cllr. Lawrence Suah, who represented the Gompa Magisterial Court during the sentencing, told reporters he was not aware of the decision to release Amos Suah and had no further information.
Superintendent Charles Mehn has reportedly been suspended following the incident. Authorities alleged Mehn delayed the release by seeking confirmation from his Monrovia office before processing paperwork.
Mehn has been summoned to Monrovia to answer questions about the alleged delay.
On Tuesday, October 6, large numbers of residents, including members of the Ganta business community and local motorcyclists, gathered to welcome Amos Suah back to his home in Ganta.
The show of support was described by participants as a spontaneous procession.
Key questions remain: whether the US$100 fine has been paid, whether Suah will make the court‑ordered radio retractions, why his family was not notified of his release and who authorized the early release.
Neither the court nor prison authorities have issued an official public statement explaining the circumstances.
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