Monrovia – Bishop Manaseh Conto of the Mission of Today Church in the Borough of New Kru Town, is likely to go behind bars shortly if nothing is done to validate an insurance bond of US$ 936,000 he presented to the Criminal Court “C” two months ago.
Report by: Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]
Bishop Conto has been enjoying relative freedom since May this year after he tendered the bond, pending the start of his trial.
Now, the state prosecution led by Atty. Bobby Livingstone wants the court to set the bond aside and have the defendants re-arrested and incarcerated until their bond is made valid because according to them, the bond is defective and insufficient after scrutiny.
In May 2016, the Bishop was indicted along with two others; Steven Kettor and another man only identified as Smith, for theft of property and misapplication of entrusted property and were arrested and detained at the Monrovia Central Prison where they spent three days before tendering the bond.
The defendant’s lawyer, Sam Cooper however argued that the bond was valid and sufficient.
Meanwhile, the court in a ruling following Atty. Livingstone’s argument, has given the defendants up to 72-hours to make sufficient the bond offered by the Insurance Company of Africa (ICA) by increasing it to US$ 468,000.00.
But Atty. Livingstone told the court that the Insurance company (ICA) that filed the bond has only US$11, 000, 00 in its account therefore it was impossible to file a bond of US$936,000.00 on behalf of the defendants.
“Your honor, justification of bond is a right under the law, in this case there is a matter of restitution and the insurance company has failed to justify the bond, therefore set aside the bond and incarcerate the defendants until their bonds can become valid” said Atty. Livingstone.
In a counter argument lawyers representing the three defendants Cllr. Cooper told the court that the justification of insurance bond is based strictly with the insurance company that filed the bond.
Cllr. Cooper asked the prosecution to do away with the issue of bond and deal with the merit of the case at bar as the defendants have their right to bonds.
“Justification of insurance bond lies with the insurance company that filed the bond, tax clearance receipts, bank statements are not requirements under the statute” said Cllr. Cooper the lone lawyer for the defendants.
Following the argument pros and cons the court reserved ruling in the motion for exception to the defendants’ bond based on notice of assignment.
“Counsels having argued each in support of their motion and resistance rested, this court says its ruling is hereby reserved to closely peruse the laws in control so as to make just and equitable ruling in this matter based on regular notice of assignment” said Judge Emery Paye.
Bishop Conto, Kettor and Smith were jointly taken to court on charges of theft of property and misapplication in the amount of US$150,000.00 each based on complaint by the Manager of the Korean Trading Company (KTC) Hunchi Choi where defendant Kettor reportedly served as manager.
The Korean Trading Company (KTC) located in Point Four (4) Bushrod Island is a Korean Company involved in car rental and spare parts sale in the country.