State prosecutors in the case Republic of Liberia, by and thru All Liberian Party vs Alexander B. Cummings and others are demanding that defendant Cummings provides photocopy of his Liberian passport with the American visa, which he has used to travel to the United States of America on the basis of seeing his ill mother.
In a letter dated March 11, 2022, Cummings lawyers, headed by Cllr. Abrahim B. Sillah, wrote the Judge of Criminal Court “C”, His Honor Roosevelt Willie, requesting a permission for brief voluntary absence for his client, Cummings, in order that he may able to travel to the United States to see his ailing 93-year-old mother.
Cllr. Sillah’s letter revealed that Cummings would leave on March 12, 2022 and return on March 20, 2022, providing information regarding the ticket number, place of travel and duration.
In return, Judge Willie informed the Judge of the Monrovia City Court, Jomah Jallah, to revoke the travel restriction placed on Cummings and to grant him the permission to travel.
Accordingly, Judge Jallah revoked the travel restriction on Cummings and wrote the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) to permit Cummings to travel.
In his letter to the Commissioner General of LIS, Robert W. Budy, Sr., Judge Jallah said, “By directive of my order, the travel restriction placed on Mr. Alexander B. Cummings on March 11, 2022 is hereby revoked and lifted with immediate effect, and Mr. Cummings’ right to travel within and without the bailiwick of the Republic of Liberia is hereby restored as though same was never restricted.
“The revocation of the travel restriction on Mr. Cummings is pursuant to an order received from His Honor Roosevelt Willie, Resident Circuit Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes “C” for the County of Montserrado, directing the Monrovia City Court to revoke the restriction with immediate effect, and restore Mr. Cummings right to travel freely within and without the Republic.
“Therefore, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and all law enforcement agencies in the Republic of Liberia are advised to accord Mr. Cummings the normal travel assistance all Liberians and foreign residents may be entitled to when traveling in and out of the Republic.”
Speaking to the Hot Pepper about Cummings’ travel, the Solicitor General and lead state prosecutor, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, said he interposed no objection to the travel request of co-defendant Alexander B. Cummings, but emphasized that, upon his return, prosecution lawyers will ensure that he files with the court a photocopy of his Liberian passport with the US Visa in it, ticket and information about his date of departure and return to Liberia, and destination, if any, and duration.
Cllr. Cephus said, “We are not sure that Cummings is going to America; the passport with the American visa in it will allay our doubts.”