It appears like the attention of members of the House of Representatives has been drawn to the alleged mishandling of the US$100 million drug container’s investigation and subsequent indictment, which the government lost in court even though there was “overwhelming” evidence to bring down a guilty verdict.
However, government lawyers could not prove to the court that the four persons indicted were culpable of the crimes they were accused of.
A source from among those who investigated the cocaine case told the Hot Pepper that, even if the four individuals were to be re-prosecuted, the court would possibly hand down a not-guilty verdict again because, in fact, they are not guilty of the crimes they were accused of. The source alleged that the prosecutors know the culprits but are refusing to bring them face-to-face with the law.
According to the source, it is not possible for an entity to order for a container in its name, release the container from the Freeport of Monrovia in its name, and drive the container to its warehouse without knowledge as to what is in the container. “It is either the items in the container belongs to them or they agreed to import the container on someone’s behalf. Either way, the entity must be prosecuted for its crimes in the matter,” the source argued.
However, the source said, this was exactly what happened during the investigation of the US$100 million cocaine case, noting that the drug container was ordered by TRH from Brazil in its name, released by TRH and taken to TRH warehouse on the Japan Freeway but the prosecutors refused to indict the TRH company and its owners, George Abi Jaoudi, Bilal Abraham and his wife.
Instead, the source claimed, the prosecution protected all those who shipped the container into the country and prosecuted individuals who claimed to have gone to the TRH to buy the container. “They all should have been arrested and prosecuted. If the buyers are not guilty, the sellers would surely be,” the source added.
“Now that the courts cannot find those prosecuted guilty, those prosecuting the case are blaming the judges for handing down a not-guilty verdict. But believe me, their action is only intended to save face, because they themselves knew those indicted were not guilty,” the source added.
However, amidst the bad image and unacceptable reputational cloud placed over the country due to the mishandling of the drug case, which was being dutifully followed by international partners, the House of Representatives has decided to step in and find alternative measures to find the actual perpetrators.
In this effort, the plenary of the House of Representatives has authorized its Committee on National Security to gather from the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Ministry of Justice the facts and circumstances surrounding the multimillion-dollar drug saga in Liberia, in order that the committee may establish alternative measures being pursued into finding the actual perpetrators.
Plenary reached the decision Thursday, June 8, 2023 during the 8th day sitting of the second quarter of the 6th session of the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, the committee is expected to report to plenary within the period of one week.
In the same vain, the House of Representatives has requested a joint appearance of authorities of the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Police (LNP) next week Monday for both entities to provide information about the status of the late Charloe Musu’s murder case and its timely prosecution.
Plenary also took the decision Thursday, June 8, 2023, during the 8th day sitting of the 2nd quarter of the 6th session of the House of Representatives.
Charloe Musu was reportedly murdered on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at the Brewerville residence of her mother, ex-Chief Justice, Gloria Musu-Scott.