Monrovia, Liberia – The Cestos City Magisterial Court in Rivercess County illegally sentenced Liberian journalist Eric Opa Doue to 30 days in prison on a false charge of criminal compulsion, a decision that has been fiercely condemned by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
In what the PUL characterizes as a deliberate attempt by certain judicial and governmental actors to harass, intimidate, and suppress independent journalists, Magistrate Dixon Yeahgar ordered journalist Doue to be imprisoned on Monday, September 8, 2025.
The Union expressed concern about Magistrate Yeahgar’s seeming disregard for a previous in-chambers resolution that was established in cooperation with Rivercess’s recently appointed County Attorney Martin Tumoe and police officer Ojuku Weeks.
Journalist Doue was obliged by that agreement to retract and apologize for his piece on Officer Weeks, which he evidently did by releasing many retractions and public apologies, according to a press release signed by Julius Kanaba, the union president.
Nevertheless, these justice actors continued to humiliate him by handcuffing and locking him up.
“Frankly, Magistrate Yeahgar has committed a grave misapplication of justice by wrongly detaining the journalist under a charge that has nothing to do with the facts of the case. He has allowed himself to be used as an instrument of intimidation against the press,” the PUL declared.
This action, which the Union views as an abuse of judicial power, undercuts the earlier pledges made by recently appointed Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay to ensure the impartial and equitable application of the law.
The PUL also challenges the biased handling of a similar case involving journalist Methuselah Gaye, who published the same story before retracting and apologizing. Journalist Eric Opa Doue is innocent and should never have been imprisoned on false pretenses, according to the PUL, which demands his immediate release.
At the PUL’s request, journalist Doue is being represented by attorney Bruce Boweh, who has expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, pointing out that even if the two parties were able to come to an agreement, the court still chose to imprison the journalist.
Four attempts have been made since August 13, 2025, to imprison journalist Doue in order to limit his freedom of the press and of expression. This is his fourth try at detention, the Union noted.
