The two motions filed by the defense and the Government of Liberia (GOL) before the Supreme Court of Liberia seem to be bringing serious hitches for the restitution of the embattled Senator-elect of Lofa County, J. Brownie Samukai, as mandated by the Supreme Court of Liberia in the Armed Forces of Liberia theft of property case.
On August 26, 2021, lawyers representing defendant Brownie J. Samukai at Criminal Court “C” informed Judge Ousman F. Feika that Samukai has paid 50% of his share of the total sum of US$1,943,971.99 (United States dollars one million nine hundred forty-three thousand nine hundred and seventy-one and ninety-nine cents) but a motion on bill of information and motion for enlargement may not favor their client’s final payment.
According to the defense lawyers, Samukai made 50% restitution of the judgment sum within six (6) months and, thereafter, entered an appropriate stipulation with the court as to how the balance will be paid.
The court’s minutes for yesterday indicated that the three defendants’ sum was divided into three, meaning one-third of the judgment/restitution imposed by the Supreme Court, an amount of US$10,000 was paid on March 23, 2021, US$8,000 paid on April 7, 2021, while the balance was paid recently on August 19, 2021—US$173,276.05—bringing his total payment to US$191,276.05.
The lawyer informed the court that co-defendants Joseph Johnson and J. Nyumah Dorkor within the said six-month only paid 1,000.00 each, as mandated by the Supreme Court, but their client, J. Brownie Samukai, has satisfied his portion of the 1/3 of the 50% payment to be made within six months and, therefore, in keeping with the mandate entered the appropriate stipulation to complete his full payment of 1/3 50%.
They further informed the court that the two co- defendants, Joseph Johnson and J. Nyumah Dorkor, are currently seeking medical attention outside of the court and could not fulfill their portion of the US$191,276.05, and that this situation has caused them to file a bill of information before the Supreme Court seeking enlargement of time to have them pay their portion of the 50%.
Samukai’s lawyers concluded by begging the court, requesting to “enter an appropriate payment arrangement” that will be accepted until the Supreme Court either grants or denies the bill of information seeking an enlargement of time by the defendants.
Judge Feika took judicial notice of the fact that a motion for enlargement of time is still pending before the Supreme Court, while the state has also filed a motion for bill of information pending before the high court
“In light of the forgoing, this court says it would be unwise to proceed with the enforcement of the mandate of the Supreme Court when the motion for enlargement of time filed by the defendants and the bill of information filed by the state have not been determined by the Supreme Court, which is a superior court to this court; hence, these proceedings are therefore suspended pending the issuance of a notice of assignment.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has cited both parties to hear the bill of information filed by the Government of Liberia (GOL) on September 6, 2021.