Monrovia – Fighting his cause for justice, former Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) chief investigator, Morris Ware’s broken spirit which had a toll on his health, could not continue with the back and forth with the LACC over his sudden dismissal.

“We have two kids together and three on his own. We got married in November 2016, this November supposed to make us one year.”

Unable to recover from the shock, Morris gave up the ghost April 29, 2017 after seven months of rigmarole with the commission over his reinstatement or just benefits.

He was dismissed by Cllr. James Verdier, Chairman of the Commission, allegedly because he leaked information out to the press.

The late Mr. Ware was never served any warning letter throughout the seven years he served the LACC.

A colleague of the deceased, who asked for anonymity out of fear of losing his job, disclosed that following his dismissal, the late Ware filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labor. But lawyers representing the commission repeatedly pleaded for time.

Said the source: “They asked that the case be postponed because in law when such a thing happen it usually means that a party is seeking common ground. But every time we appeared they had to ask for time which is usually granted by the labor court.”

Our source continued: “Since he was dismissed he had been confused moving from one place to another hoping that the LACC would reconsider its decision but nothing materialized until he died.

“As I speak to you, I am in shock, but we will not rest until we have justice for his children he left behind.”

A source told FPA that the deceased’s LACC contract was not attested to as mandated by the Labor law.

“The LACC did not allow the Labor ministry to attest the contract signed by deceased which accordingly is unlawful. I came to know him a while so his fight can’t go in vain.

All we need now is a befitting burial and a letter of administration to be done so the family can benefit from his hard-earned gain.”

The case at the Labor ministry is still at conference level and might probably be sent to the National Labor Court.

This is not the first time that Cllr. Verdier and the LACC have been dogged with controversy over leaks.

In May 2015, the LACC boss was involved in a heated series of exchanges with the editor/publisher of FrontPageAfrica regarding a leaked report of the LACC which recommended the prosecution of former Managing Director of the National Port of Authority (NPA) Matilda Parker for her alleged involvement in US$800,000 ‘scandal’ at the port.

The LACC Chair went as far as to suggest that someone within his organization had leaked the report to FrontPageAfrica and even spend US$10,000 of taxpayers money to investigate and question staffers over the leaked report.

The effort led to a number of dismissals within the LACC, including some employees who were miles away from the office of the auditors who prepared the report.

But the latest saga came at a sad time for one family.

On Monday, Rita Johnson-Ware, the wife of the deceased, expressed disappointment over the death of her husband.

She disclosed that her husband came down with pressure up after which he was taken to the E.L.W.A hospital where he died.

“We have two kids together and three on his own. We got married in November 2016, this November supposed to make us one year.”

On 25 June 2015, Liberian President Sirleaf signed into law the Decent Work Bill, the country’s first labor law since the 1950s.

The act marks the second time that the African country becomes a forerunner in promoting ILO standards.

In June 2006, Liberia became the first country in the world to ratify the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention.

Now it has adopted the first labor law in the world that refers to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda directly in its title.

Liberia’s commitment to this agenda goes well beyond the title of the new law.

The latter includes a clear statement of its purposes, and the very first is helping to promote decent work in Liberia. Among others, this means an environment that helps to create quality jobs, and allows all workers to exercise their rights at work.

The new law is also intended to promote economic development and growth, including by reducing obstacles to efficient business competition.

These key policy objectives can be traced to Liberia’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy, which committed to revising the old labor law to make it more responsive to the needs of employees, employers and investors, while also promoting fundamental human rights appropriate for Liberia.

The new law explicitly promotes fundamental rights at work, including freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively; the right not to be subject to forced or compulsory labor; the right to equality at work, and to equal working conditions regardless of gender or other irrelevant criteria; and the right not to be subject to the worst forms of child labor.

The law also seeks to implement certain fundamental rights found in Liberia’s Constitution.

The rights of employers and workers and their organizations will be protected through new institutions and processes that are established by the new law.

Meanwhile the Chairperson of the LACC Cllr. James Verdier disclosed that the deceased contract was terminated a year ago.

“I don’t know whether his contract was attested to, because the Labor Ministry don’t have to attest to any contract, what that has to do with Labor Ministry to attest with the contract,

“He had an employment contract with LACC and we terminated the contract because of integrity, and not productive.”

Cllr. Verdier confirmed that the commission is in the know of the complaint but refused to disclose their response to the ministry.

“That case is still in court, and has been in court for the past 7 months, we took the stand to terminate his contract because he wasn’t productive to the commission.

He continued: “You expect me to discuss our response with you, off head, no- that is a legal document and I can’t talk about that, all I can say he claimed wrongful death and we counter it, we dismiss it because lack of productivity.

“We felt he wasn’t productive on the job, we didn’t think he was adding value to the contract.”

The LACC chairperson refuted rumors that the deceased was dismissed on suspicion that he leaked information to the press.

“How can we be responsible for somebody dying when the person had stroke, we went and planted something in him to have the stroke? We only acted as administrator meaning we are to look at the good of the institution and he was one of those who weren’t productive.”

Said Verdier: “That is false, his dismissal had nothing to do with him leaking information to the press. We don’t even know that he had links with the press, he had been with the commission and hasn’t investigated more than three cases.”

“As I said we found him unproductive and ineffective so we terminated the contract.” The LACC boss declined when asked to name some of the cases investigated by the deceased.

“He was employed with LACC when he had the stroke”, a comment which the wife of the deceased rebutted.

Monrovia – As Liberia gradually draws to the 2017 election, Liberia’s Chief Justice has asked staff of the judiciary to resign if they have interest in politics.

Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo/ bettie.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

Chief Justice Korkpor said judges and magistrates could resign from the judiciary, if they wished to contest the upcoming elections so as to create space for others who want to fill the gap.

He cautioned them to stay away from politics on grounds that they are to serve as impartial referees.

“I want judges out of politics, yes, you have one vote keep it to your chest; yes, I’m talking from experience, we had a situation when some magistrates tested the waters and put their hats in the race, because they were in remote areas the information didn’t come to the judiciary but later it came; in the process they abandon their courts they were three, one won and two lost.

The two that lost came to court like business as usual, but we removed their names from the payroll, this should not happen to you,” Chief Justice Korkpor said.

“You are not a member of any political party, you don’t belong to any camp, this message is very important so that we will not be seen as partisans and as I said, if election matters come to you decide on it promptly so that if it has an appeal process it can go to the proper forum.”

During the Supreme Court Opening, Justice Korkpor in his charge said that justices were not taking vacation off so as to swiftly determine election cases.

He further stated that the rebirth of democracy in the country is now and the court is the fulcrum which must remain on course.

The Chief Justice boasted that he was proud of the court despite its numerous cries on increment of salaries, benefit and so forth.

“Let me say since I been on the Supreme Court bench we have worked, steadily and improving the lives of judicial workers not only the judges but everybody. [When] We came here salary was nothing; I don’t want to call figures but every year we have fought to be able to be carrying to the level where it is now.

He reminded judges and magistrates to perform their responsibility diligently and efficiently as they call for salary increment.

Chie Justice said: “This means there should be corresponding attitude on your part, commitment to work, passion for your chosen profession, so that as you ask for benefit, there is improvement in the work that you do. You can’t ask for salary increment and you know are under performing.

“So I urge you to be able to come to work on time to be able to divorce yourself from people’s cases to be able to decide the cases and must only be based on the facts and the applicable law. When you do that who will not want to make a case for you, but if you don’t then don’t come back to me,” he stressed.

Monrovia – In the wake of alarming reports of several pre-trial detainees held at the Monrovia Central Prison and other prison facilities across Liberia, Chief Justice Francis Korkpor has warned magistrates to avoid illegal detentions.

“It appears that you are no longer exercising the Criminal Procedure Law 13.5 and you are still sending people to jail, The Liberian people are crying from this; and you have to stop that, don’t keep people in jail who are not to be there”  –  Chief Justice  Francis Korkpor

The Chief Justice made the call Saturday, just days after he made an impromptu visit at the Monrovia Central Prison to acquaint himself with activities there.

The Chief Justice told a group of Magistrates from various magistrate courts across Montserrado County at a meeting Saturday that the Judiciary instituted the Magistrate Sitting Program at the Monrovia Central Prison in a bid to fast track cases that involve pre-trial detainees.

Nevertheless, the judiciary head said, the number of pre-trial detainees continues to swell not only at the Monrovia Central Prison; but other prison facilities in the country as well.

Said the Chief Justice: “It appears that you are no longer exercising the Criminal Procedure Law 13.5 and you are still sending people to jail, The Liberian people are crying from this; and you have to stop that, don’t keep people in jail who are not to be there” said Chief Justice Korkpor.

The Criminal Procedure Law Chapter 13.5 requires   for a magistrate or judge to use his/her discretion to allow for a lawyer or prominent individual in the community to sign for a defendant when the need arises.

The Chief Justice told the magistrates that they are the ones who are operating the first court of instance. Yet, when people hear about the magistrate court, they feel very afraid. Therefore, they have to apply the law where it is applicable.

“You don’t have to put someone in jail who do not belong there probably you do not know the implication that person will either get sick in there or if that person is employed; the employer could him/her dismissed.

Chief Justice Korkpor continued: “There is a need for the magistrates to come out with a judgment that will determine who is to be in jail”. He added that those whose presence impose real threat to the community are the ones who are to be in jail when they are brought under the jurisdiction of the court.

In case of any problems in the adjudication of cases, the Chief Justice said, the magistrates can then be called upon to bring forward problems confronting the operation of their respective courts for redress. He then warned that if those problems are not brought forth for solution, the judge presiding will be held accountable.

The Chief Justice indicated that rotating magistrates, is part of his responsibilities. He said he intends to organize workshop in the coming weeks that will bring magistrates and judges together for a common dialogue.

Magistrates from West Point, New Kru Town and Brewerville told the Chief Justice that the reasons some have resolved to detain defendants, is due to repeated appearance before them over and over for the same crimes whenever they are set free .

However, Chief Justice called on the magistrates not to see detention as the only option, but must also explore speedy trials.

Kennedy L Yangian kennedy.yangian@frontpageafricaonline.com