Monrovia – The trial of former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai and two others former officials of the Ministry of National Defense has been suspended for a week due to a reported illness of two of the three defendants.
The Presiding Judge of Criminal Court ‘C’, Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay, ruled that the case be suspended for a week to afford Defendants Joseph P. Johnson and J. Nyumah Dorkor seek medical attention.
The court’s decision came as the result of an appeal made to it on Monday, March 2, by the defense counsel that the former Deputy Defense Minister for Administration, Joseph Johnson and former Comptroller, Nyumah Dorkor, were not well to stand trial on Monday, March 2.
“Your honor defense requests for the adjournment of today’s trial due to the fact that co-defendants in person of Nyumah Dorkor and Joseph Johnson are ill. There is a medical certificate to that effect to be presented to the court,” said Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah on behalf of the two defendants.
However, prosecutor lawyer and Montserrado County Attorney, Edwin K. Martin objected to the request of the defense counsels. Cllr. Martin argued that the request of the defense was intended to delay the trial.
He further argued that it should have been all three defendants in court and since two are sick, the court should have carried out the trial of the other defendant and not postpone the case for a week because of the sick ones.
However, in his ruling, Judge Gbeisay stated that the court had observed that especially Co-defendant Dorkor is seen to be “a serious pressure patient,” despite the fact that the defendants were to take the witness stand yesterday. He further ruled that it would have been “enough to carry his pressure up.”
The Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge assured that the court is out to expeditiously handle the matter for the public interest. He also stated: “It is confirmed that an adjournment prayed for based on medical ground cannot and should not and ought not to be ignored by the court of justice.”
He then denied the request of the prosecutor and adjourned the case for Monday, March 9 at 1 p.m.
Former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai, Deputy for Administration Joseph Johnson and Comptroller Nyumah Dorkor were indicted in 2019 by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County and charged with multiple criminal offences, theft of property, criminal conspiracy, economic sabotage, misuse of public money and money laundering
The three former Defense Ministry officials are charged for allegedly misusing over US$1.2 million reportedly deducted from the salaries of members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to be paid as benefits to families of dead soldiers of the army.
The three defendants have since pleaded not guilty to the charges. So the state now has to prove its case against them.
Testifying recently after he was subpoenaed by state prosecutors, AFL Chief of Staff Prince C. Johnson III stated that documents in his possession show that the money was not used for personal reason. General Johnson’s principal deputy, Brigadier General Geraldine George also stated that President George Weah consented to pay back the money in question.