The Judge of Criminal Court “C”, Yamie Gbeisay, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 announced Tuesday, August 25, 2020 as the date to render his final judgment of conviction or acquittal of the four former Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) officials in the L$16 billion case.
Judge Gbeisay Wednesday reserved ruling in the case involving the four ex-CBL officials following legal argument between government and defense lawyers at the Temple of Justice.
The four ex-CBL officials, David Farhat, Elsie Dossen-Badio, Kollie Tamba and Milton Weeks are on trial for multiple offenses, ranging from economic sabotage, theft of property to misuse of public funds.
Prior to Judge Gbeisay’s August 19 pronouncement, defense lawyer, Counselor Abraham Sillah, argued that his client, Milton Weeks, did not conspire or connive with Crane Currency or any other co-defendant to steal any amount of the banknotes printed.
Counselor Sillah told the court that, to play the blame game and divert the attention of the Liberian public from the actual amount does not exist in the real world of the CBL’s interaction with Crane Currency, saying the allegation is a smear campaign by the prosecution in the notorious mismanagement of the country’s money.
Former Chief Justice, Gloria Musu Scott, who is one of defense lawyers, also argued that the prosecution has failed to establish conspiracy to the call logs, noting that evidences should proof that the accused fraudulently converted the money into their own use. She prayed that the court set the defendants free by restoring their rights.
But in reaction, the prosecution, headed by Solicitor General Syrenius Cephus, said the court should convict the defendants because they conspired to take L$2.6 billion in question, arguing that they provided best evidences to the court, contrary to defense lawyers claims.