MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia has reinstituted a criminal indictment against former National Investment Commission Boss, George Gyude Wisner, II, Naborlor Sengbe, and all others who were in a previous indictment that was dismissed without prejudice to the state.
The indictment, which was filed through Criminal Court “C” Tuesday, after the ongoing proceeding that was held in Nimba, and subsequently in Gbarnga, was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
Wisner and 13 others, including Senate Secretary, Naborlor Sengbe, are re-indicted on the charges of economic sabotage, theft of property, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, in a case filed by the Republic of Liberia by and through Hans Armstrong as respondents.
Their case at Criminal Court “C” was previously dismissed on Monday, September 6, by then presiding Judge Ousman Feika, based on a motion filed by a lawyer representing one of the respondents, representing the Afriland Bank, Cllr. Daku Mulbah that Armstrong is still a defendant in a case in Nimba and cannot file another lawsuit in a similar case when he has not yet faced his indictment.
Mr. Armstrong, based on the court record, was indicted at the 8th Judicial Circuit Court of Nimba County for the crimes of Theft of Property and Forgery, while the defendants on the other hand are indicted for the commission of the crimes of Economic Sabotage, Theft of Property, Forgery and Criminal Conspiracy.
According to the court, based on the fact that the defendants in these proceedings are the private prosecutors in the indictment against Armstrong in the criminal case against him at the 8th Judicial Circuit Court for Nimba County and the law, said jurisdiction provides that a cause of action be dismissed, if there is another action pending between the same parties for the same cause in the court in Liberia.
However, government lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the case, following its transfer from Nimba to Gbarnga based on lack of evidence.
The dismissal of the case in Gbarnga has given government lawyers grounds to re-indict Wisner along with 13 others, including Senate Secretary Sengbe.
Following his pre-indictment, Wisner on his official social media page described the charge as “politically motivated”.
Nevertheless, he is confident that the government will again be defeated at Criminal Court “C”.
Wisner said: “The government of Liberia has reissued as indictment and arrest warrant for me in the exact same case that was disposed of by the court last year.”
“We assure the public, friend, and our supporters that, God willing, as was with the first politically motivated indictment, this too will again receive a bloody nose under a transparent judicial process. We remain very focused in our determination to ensure economic transformation and democratic consolidation for our country.”
He termed as a “waste of public time”, the “use of the court to intimidate the opposition”, stressing that he will not be intimidated.
“Using the court and cook-up charges to intimidate and blackmail perceived opponents is a waste public time and resources.
We will not be cowed into submission. Our lawyers are doing everything possible within the law to ensure a speedy and free trial,” Wisner maintained.
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