Pre-Trail Detainees’ Cases To Receive ‘Timely Disposition’ -Gbarpolu Circuit Judge Vows During Opening of August Term

MONROVIA- The Assigned Circuit Court judge in Gbarpolu County, Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, Sr, has promised that as courts are opened for the August Term, his court would be more aggressive in as ensuring that those that are in pretrial detention on allegations of committing crimes are brought to court for the timely disposition of their cases or released if good reasons for their continuous   detentions are not shown by the prosecuting arm of government.

He complained the lack of conductive, adequate detention centers, specifically the Bopolu Central Prison which, according to him, is an UNMIL Quick Impact project, built for some 15 persons but now is accommodating some 60 plus persons.

“As justice actors, this figure is  very, very alarming and unacceptable as we shouldn’t be pretenders that by seeing a person in jail that is interpreted as though  justice is had,” judge Wesseh said.

“As we sit in here today, the Liberian justice system is on a time bomb and if nothing is done in the soonest possible time to build a new nation prison center, we will experience a massive jail break of mega proportion,” he warned.

Wesseh said a country dignity should not only be shown how a person puts food on his or her table, but also the issue of person over-crowdedness as  civilized nation.

“Therefore, the need to construct a new national prison facility cannot be overly emphasized as constructing a new prison facility should also form part of the overall developmental agenda for our government,” he said.

The Gbarpolu judge indicated that continuous detention without trial is fundamental violation of Art. 20(a) of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia which emphasizes that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, security of the person, property, privilege or any other right except as the outcome of a hearing judgment consistent with the provisions laid down in this Constitution and in accordance with due process of law. Justice shall be done without sale, denial or delay; and in all cases not arising in courts not of record, under courts martial and upon impeachment, the parties shall have the right to trial by jury”.