Monrovia, Liberia – A request has been made by more than 110 inmates at different prison institutions around the nation to have the charges against them for prolonged detention without trial dismissed.
The inmates petitioned the resident Circuit Judge of Criminal Court “A” Roosevelt Willie, to dismiss all accusations by the Ministry of Justice, claiming extended imprisonment without indictment or trial.
On behalf of the prisoners who have reportedly been held at Monrovia Central Prison, the Public Interest Law and Advocacy Center filed the motion. As per the petitioners, they have been imprisoned for two to seven and a half years without any official charges or legal actions against them.
The motion further claims that the Ministry of Justice, which represents the Republic, has not indicted or prosecuted the defendants for lack of reasonable or justified reasons.
According to Article 21 f & h of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, the motion states that these people’s ongoing imprisonment violates their fundamental right to a timely trial.
Section 18.2 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which requires that charges against any defendant not indicted by the next court term after their arrest be dismissed unless good reason is demonstrated, and cited in the application.
Most of the defendants who are anticipated to be freed have been identified as allegedly renowned murderers and armed robbers.
Reported by: G. Watson Richards
