Monrovia– Former Liberian Defense Minister, Brownie Samukai has called on the Liberian Senate not to confirm Judge Yamie Gbeisay as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Judge Gbeisay was recently nominated by President George Weah to replace Justice Sie-A-Nye Youh, following her elevation as Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia.
Speaking on Tuesday on OK FM, a Monrovia-based radio station, Samukai said Gbeisay lacks the integrity and moral standing to sit on the Supreme Court bench as a member.
Samukai also accused Judge Gbeisay of manufacturing evidence during his trial when there was “absolutely none to adjudge him (Samukai) guilty of misapplying money”.
“Not a shred of evidence was ever presented to meet the standard of evidence for theft, nor conspiracy does not misuse of private funds such since Judge Himself said the evidence was for misusing private funds…,” he said.
“That there is a different legal remedy for misapplication of private funds versus public funds, of the latter for which we were charged and adjudged guilty.”
The former defense minister noted that the high court of the land is a place of honesty and morality, stating that a character of Judge Gbeisay’s caliber should have no space there to occupy.
“A character like Yamie Gbeisay cannot and shouldn’t be condoned to sit on the bench of the highest court of the land,” he said.
“He’s an idle of corruption and dishonesty. In ernest, such character should be prevented from occupying any position in the high court,” Mr. Samukai continued.
The former Defense Minister claimed Judge Gbeisay is one of those corrupting the judicial system, adding that Gbeisay lacks the independence to sit on the Supreme Court bench.
Judge Gbeisay presided over the criminal trial of Mr. Samukai and two others in 2021.
The three former Defense Ministry officials were found guilty by the Supreme Court of Liberia for misapplying money deducted from soldiers’ salaries.
During his confirmation hearing on Monday, Gbeisay told Senators that Mr. Samukai’s conviction wouldn’t have changed even if former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had testified to confirm that she authorized him to use the soldiers’ money.
But Mr. Samukai remains adamant that he was wrongfully prosecuted, reiterating that the entire justice system of the country is messy because of the presence of individuals he branded as “black cows”.
He asserted that Judge Gbeisay has miserably failed the integrity test, and that he (Gbeisay) is a “black cow” who should never be given space to serve on the Supreme Court bench as a Justice.
He at the same time expressed his willingness to testify against Judge Gbeisay at the Liberian Senate to challenge his ‘boldface lies.’
Mr. Samukai added that Judge Gbeisay is one of the reasons why former Chief Justice, Francis Korkpor once said the entire judiciary is corrupt.