The National Port Authority (NPA), APM Terminals as well as other potential witnesses are expected to testify in the on-going US$100 million cocaine case following a request made by the defense counsels.
On Wednesday, April 19, 2023 lawyers representing defendants Malam Conte, Adula Djaio, Makki Issam and Oliver Zayzay requested the Judge of Criminal Court “C”, Blamo Dixon, to subpoena the managements of NPA, APM Terminal and other potential witnesses to testify in the case.
The lawyers requested Judge Dixon to issue a writ of subpoena Decu Tecum on the management of NPA, and APM Terminals, and subpoena Ad-Testificadum and other potential witnesses.
The subpoena Testificadum is expected to be served on James Hinneh, Customs Brokers Union, Othello Gablah, Publisher of the New Dawn, the management of the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Customs Services of Liberia.
The request made by the defense counsels is aimed at testifying in favor of the defendants.
The defense counsels argued that it has been allegedly reported that TRH Trading Cooperation is being given special treatment by the management of NPA and APM Terminals, which prompted James Hinneh, President of the Custom Brokers Union, to voice out loudly.
According to the defense team, their request to invite NPA and APM Terminals management is to aid in the US$100 million cocaine case at Criminal Court “C”, Temple of Justice.
They said they believed that it is the responsibility of the National Port Authority and APM Terminals to free and clear containers at the Freeport of Monrovia; as such, they should be able to tell whether the container of the $100 million worth of cocaine was freed and cleared by them. And if not, NPA and APM Terminals should tell why the TRH Trading Cooperation container that contained the US$100 million cocaine did not go through the normal process.
Meanwhile, the application of the defense for insurance of writ of Subpoena Decu Tecum and Ad-Testificadum on the individuals and the institutions named above was granted by Judge Dixon.
The case is expected to resume on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.