MONROVIA – The Criminal Court “C” Judge, Blamo Dixon has granted a request from state prosecutors for the isolation of the jury in the ongoing US$100 million alleged drug trafficking case.
The case involved 520kg of cocaine valued that was illegally shipped among frozen foods to Liberia.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
Judge Dixon’s decision on Tuesday came after the prosecution team requested the court for the selection of a trial jury and that after the selection, they should be isolated, while serving as jurors in the proceedings, and thereafter make a determination.
Judge Dixon noted that the request is in line with the jury law on sequestration and intended to fast-track the proceedings.
Based on the request made by the prosecution, the court ordered the clerk to address a communication to the court administrator of the Supreme Court to inform her about the prosecution’s request as well as put in proper perspective the appropriate mechanism to facilitate jury sequestration.
Judge Dixon maintained that the Supreme Court should also provide a bus that will enable the prospective jurors to go to their various residences to collect their personal belongings that they will use during the trial.
He also mandated that said bus should commute to jurors from the jurors’ quarter to the courtroom on a daily basis, pending the conclusion of the case.
Defendants Malam Conte, Adulai Djibri Djalo, Makki Admeh Issam and Oliver A. Zayzay, and others to be identified are indicted for allegedly commissioning the crime of Money Laundering, Unlicensed Possession of Controlled Drug, Unlicensed Importation of Controlled Drugs, and Criminal Conspiracy.
The Grand Jury of Montserrado indictment noted that the act of the Defendants is contrary to Section 15.2 of the Money Laundering Act, 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia, and against the peace and dignity of Liberia.
The indictment added, that the acts of the Defendants are contrary to Section 14.102 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 2014 and 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia as well as against the peace and dignity of Liberia.
In the same vein, the indictment noted that the defendant’s acts are contrary to Sections 107 and 111 of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Acts 2014 and 2.2(b)of the Penal Law of Liberia, and they also hindered 4LCLR Title 26, Section 10.4 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) and 4LCLR, Title 26, Section 2.2(b) of the Penal Law of Liberia and against the peace and dignity of Liberia.
The defendants were indicted on four counts by the Grand Jury of Montaerrado County, to be brought before Criminal Court “C”, based on an arrest order issued by Judge Dixon.
They are expected to appear before the Court to answer to said charges before them.
The indictment further noted that Malam Conte, Adulai Djibri Djalo and Makki Admeh Issam, Oliver A. Zayzay, and others to be identified, conspired, colluded, and facilitated to commit the crime of Money Laundering, which is a Felony of the First Degree, Unlicensed Importation of Controlled Drug or Substance, Unlicensed Possession of Controlled Drugs or Substance which are also Felony of the First Degree and Criminal Conspiracy, Felony of Second Degree.
Defendant Makki Ahmed Issam, a resident of Sinkor along with co-defendants Adulai Djibril Djalo and Oliver Allen Zayzay were turned over to the government on October 6, through Lorenzo Pehlam, Deputy Director for Operations, Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for allegedly trafficking drugs between the Liberian and Sierra Leonean borders as well as money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
The Government of Sierra Leone arrested and turned over to its Liberian counterpart the three men who were allegedly involved in the shipment of five hundred and twenty kilogram (520kg) of cocaine valued at one hundred million United States dollars (USD 100m).