The Monrovia City Court has granted the bail bond of former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and others in the Capitol arson case, with the Stipendiary Magistrate of the court, Judge L. Ben Barco, noting that the criminal appearance bond is guaranteed by sureties of those who appeared in court, and justified the bond’s sufficiency and adequacy.
Judge Barco said the defendants are all public servants currently serving as Representatives at the National Legislature. According to him, the 1986 Constitution of Liberia states, “A person accused of a crime which is not a capital offense or a grave offense as defined by law has the right to be released on bail upon his or her own personal recognizance.”
The City Court judge added that the sureties are authorized by law to serve as sureties on a criminal appearance bond; however, the bond before the court was not an indemnity bond, coupled with the fact that the defendants are all members of the House of Representatives.
Judge Barco ruled that the exception to the Criminal Appearance Bond filed by the prosecution is denied, and the motion to justify granted, and that the defendants are hereby ordered temporarily released.
The Clerk of Court has been ordered to transmit the minutes of the court to the 1st Judicial Circuit, Criminal Court “A”, informing the judge of the decision of the court.