Monrovia – A security officer at the Roberts International Airport, Levi Johnson was Wednesday reprimanded at the Monrovia Central prison following a decision from the Supreme Court.
He is expected to spend a week at the prison for what the high court calls disrespect to the Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh.
At the contempt proceeding against security Johnson and James Ballah of RIA the court declared that Justice Yuoh went to receive a family member from the Roberts International Airport when she was overlooked by the security officer.
She was represented by Cllr. Emmanuel James who told the court: “while there, she requested Ballah to use the rest room, she had identified herself as associate justice of the Supreme court. Having entered, Johnson came banging on the door of the rest room”.
Cllr. James continued: “The justice came out of the restroom to inquire what was happening; upon which she again identified herself; but Johnson said, “my sister leave this place we are expecting guest in this place so he forcibly escorted her out of the restroom.”
Cllr. James further recommended the incarceration of the security officer for contempt for a period of two weeks at Monrovia Central Prison. Cllr. Negbalee Warner who represented the Airport said that Johnson is currently serving a one month suspension following the incident at his office. He previously begged the court to have mercy on Johnson and Ballah adding that appropriate actions are expected to be taken following the end of the due process.
“We apologize to this court and promise that such action was wrong and will never be repeated”, said Cllr. Werner. But in his ruling, Chief Justice Francis Korkpor the action of security Johnson brought the Associate Justice into public disrepute. He said though the court has heard the apology by lawyer and Gbehzongar Findley, but the action by the security guard was intentional.
“We must say however, the intentional disrespect purge the contempt. Wherefore, security guard Johnson is adjudged guilty of contempt for his unprovoked insults, disrespect He is ordered incarcerated for one week commencing today up to Tuesday, April 5, 2016,” the chief justice stated.
