AS CRIMINAL COURT ‘A’ JUDGE ISSUES CONTEMPT CHARGES ON CLLR. DEAN
Monrovia, Liberia – Criminal Court ‘A’ presiding Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has charged Minister of Justice Cllr. Frank Musa Dean with contempt of court amid controversies surrounding his nomination by Liberian Leader President George M. Weah.
Following the final argument of the murder case involving former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott and three other family members on December 21, 2023, Judge Willie announced Thursday, January 4, 2024, as the date for the sentencing hearing and final judgment of the trial and further instructed the probation officer to conduct an investigation on the four defendants and submit their report on or before January 4, 2024.
Judge Willie informed the court on Thursday, January 4, 2024, that since the twelve-man jury panel handed down a majority guilty verdict against Cllr. Scott and four other family members on the twenty-first of December, A.D. 2023, following his instruction to the probation officer, the court has not received any investigative report from the probation officer as was instructed by him up to today.
Judge Willie, however, said the probation officer informed the court through a telephone conversation that since he received the order on December 27, 2023, the Ministry of Justice has not been able to provide funding for him and his team to investigate the four defendants.
The presiding judge of Court ‘A’ intimated that the act of disregarding his order by the Ministry of Justice headed by Cllr. Frank Musu Dean is not just disrespectful, but it is also contemptuous.
He further ordered the clerk of court to issue a writ of contempt on Justice Minister Cllr. Dean and the Director of Probation to come and show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court.
The contempt hearing is slated for Tuesday, January 5, 2024, at the grounds of the Temple of Justice at 10:30 AM
On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 9:00 AM, the sentencing hearing and final verdict in the murder trial involving former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three other families will take place.
Reported by: Watson G. Richards
Contact: +231880381808
