Monrovia – The beef between the two Senators of Sinoe County is heightening, as the good friends-turned-enemies can no longer see eye-to-eye.
Report by Henry Karmo, [email protected]
Senators Milton Teahjay and Joseph Nangba have in recent days been engaging in cross accusations in the media on issues bordering on impeding the development of the county.
On Tuesday upon the resumption of legislature work after a three-week Easter break, the two lawmakers could not hold back their agitation as they resulted into invectives against each other when a communication from Sen. Teahjay requesting the Plenary to prevail on the Senate Judiciary Committee to make available report on a task given the committee to review the proposed amended rape law was read.
The proposed amendment seeks to revise rape as a non-billable crime to a billable offense. This, he said, is meant to avoid the imprisonment of men falsely accused of rape.
Upon reading the communication, Pro-Tempore Albert Chie informed Sen. Teahjay that the Committee on Judiciary would look into the matter and report to Plenary. However, being dissatisfied with the Pro-Tempore’s decision, apparently because the Judiciary Committee is headed by Sen. Nangba, said he could not accept such decision.
Nangba felt insulted by Sen. Teahjay’s posture and responded by reminding his colleagues of his experience in the Senate.
“You’re reckless,” Teahjay said to Nagba. “You are an idiot,” Nagbe responded to Teahjay. Their action put the chamber in disarray, prompting the intervention of the other Senators to calm the tension.
Teahjay, prior to being elected Senator of Sinoe County replacing Monbutu Nyenpan, who is now Public Works Minister was in conflict with leaders of the county while serving as superintendent of Sinoe County.
At some point, Teahjay was accused by the General Auditing Commission of misappropriating funds allocated in the County National Budget under the County Development Fund. Teahjay was dragged to the Legislature and appeared before plenary of the House for after Representative Matthew Zarzar his longtime archrival complained him of attacking him in the studio of the community radio.
He was sent to prison on contempt charges against a sitting lawmaker.
Recently Teahjay and Nangba fell off during the 2017 elections when he (Teahjay) chose to support a candidate against Zarzar who was the Unity party (UP) candidate against the interest of the UP.
In February of 2018 the 14th Judicial Circuit Court of Rivercess County found former Sinoe County Superintendent, J. Milton Teahjay, guilty of violating the procedures and processes of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) in the awarding of contracts for the implementation of county development projects.
While the LACC welcomed the ruling, however, it said it is gravely concerned about the Judge’s decision to ignore other charges in the indictment against Senator Teahjay that carried greater magnitude, including Economic Sabotage, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation and Misapplication of Entrusted Property.
The court fined Senator Teahjay US$50,000 to be paid into government’s revenue within the period of nine months; failure to do so would lead to his arrest and imprisonment until the amount is paid and a clerk certificate obtained.
The case against Senator Teahjay was brought to court and prosecuted by the LACC. The Senator was charged and indicted for Economic Sabotage, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation, Misapplication of Entrusted Property and Violation of the PPCC Procedures and Processes.