The Liberia National Police (LNP) has arrested and detained the former Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, and three of her family members, Rebecca Wiser, Gertrude Newton and Alice Johnson, for their alleged involvement in the murder of Cllr. Scott’s niece, Charloe Musu, at her home in Brewerville a few months ago.
Cllr. Scott and her family members were arrested on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 when they appeared at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in continuation of the investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of Charloe Musu.
They were escorted to the LNP headquarters by their lawyers; however, the police declared them suspects in the case, arrested them and provided them their Miranda rights form.
Family sources had earlier speculated that the former Chief Justice would be arrested upon her arrival at the LNP headquarters based on information available to them from the police.
After her arrest, family lawyers claimed that the arrest was premeditated, and that the police has charged Cllr. Scott and others with murder, criminal conspiracy and making false statements to law enforcement officers.
However, the LNP Spokesman, H. Moses Carter, refuted the allegation, and announced that the LNP will hold a press conference on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, to announce her charges. He reluctantly declined to state whether or not the alleged culprits have been charged.
Information received by the Hot Pepper is that the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, is allegedly plotting the release of the alleged culprits. A source close to the Justice Minister alleged that it was their understanding that Cllr. Scott would be charge and forwarded to court upon her arrival at the LNP headquarters; as such, Minister Dean allegedly tipped the family lawyers to file a writ of habeas corpus.
A writ of habeas corpus requires that a person under arrest be brought before a judge or into court, securing the person’s release from detention and possible imprisonment.
Possibly, because the LNP denied levying charges on the accused, the family lawyers could not file the writ.
The Inspector General of Police, Col. Patrick Sudue, confirmed to the Hot Pepper at about 9:59 p.m., Tuesday, that Cllr. Scott and the other accused individuals were still in LNP custody, and will be held until Wednesday to be charged and forwarded to court.
In a circular released earlier, the Ministry of Information announced that there will be a major press briefing at the ministry on Wednesday, in which police authorities will provide significant update in the investigation regarding the death of Charloe Musu. It is expected that during the press briefing the LNP will announce the charges levied against Cllr. Scott and others. The pronouncement will also validate or nullify the family lawyers’ claim that the accused had already been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and making false statements to law enforcement officers.