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A
peep at Pres. Sirleaf's visit to the Monrovia Central
Prison
Thursday,
August 16, 2007
By Thomas Kai Toteh
"The
Justice Ministry will speed up the review of cases for
minor offenses and dispose of them accordingly."
President Sirleaf told females inmates at the Monrovia
Central Prison during her recent visit there,
according to an Executive Mansion release. Justice
Minister Frances Johnson Morris flanked the president,
keenly looked on and appeared somewhat perplexed as
the president spoke. The minister's facial expression
suggests guilt of irregularities at the Ministry of
Justice.
If
the president’s tour had not landed her there, who
knows the teenagers would have languished behind bars
at that maximum prison for minor offenses
indefinitely. This is the question that goes directly
not only to the justice minister, but to all those in
the justice department and the judiciary of the
Republic of Liberia.
Upon
learning about what transpired after the president and
the Justice Minister visit to the prison, I immediately
began to contact people who are closed to the guards
of that prison compound.
I was
lucky that day. As a matter of fact, I am aware of how
people, especially poor people have been held in
prison in Liberia. But this is a new Liberia, so I
tried not to jump to conclusion.
My
source told me there are dozens of teenage inmates
whose cases were only tried preliminarily based on
plaintiffs’ testimonies, but are being held without proper legal
proceedings and representation. In fact, the source
said most of the teenagers were sent to prison from
the police headquarters.
Another
interesting thing was that the president only paid a
visit to the female cells, forgetting that the prison
is inhabited by both males and females. Even though it
was later reported that she freed a male inmate along
with his fiancé whose charges were witchcraft, political
and media analysts and human rights advocates think
the president discriminated against the male inmates.
But a
source told me most of the male inmates are hardened
criminals whose crimes rank from armed robberies to
theft of properties. By all accounts we are discussing
how the justice system should work in a country of
law. The fact that the country has survived for four
years since the cessation of civil war does not
justify the irregularities in our justice system.
The
fact that President Sirleaf ordered the release of
the two female inmates who have been in prison
for more than a month in the presence of the Justice
minister, clearly suggests that there are a number of
inmates in Liberia who are not documented. This may
also suggest that there are cases in Liberia that are
not properly arranged and investigated.
The
justice minister on the other hand is not
corresponding with the judiciary and law enforcement
of the Republic of Liberia, according to the oath she
took to uphold and administer justice in Liberia.
If
the president has to tour prison compounds to free
inmates rather than assessing the physical conditions
of those facilities, then the aforementioned assertion
has some iota of truth in it. In the first place, is
it the president’s duty to find out who is being
held in prison without trial or without proper
representation? Yes, it could be if the Justice
Ministry and the judiciary are rather erratic.
One
thing all Liberians ought to know is that the reviving
law and order rests greatly upon the Justice Ministry
and the judiciary branch of government. We can’t
have law and order, which is vitally important to the
security of the citizens and their properties when the
Justice Ministry and the judiciary are weak.
Members
of the judiciary and officials of the Justice Ministry
are appointment by the president. Now it is clear to
the president that something is not right somewhere.
It is therefore incumbent on her to get with her
officials, including the minister of justice, judges,
and inspector of police to work together so as to
restore a viable justice system supported by law and
order in the country.
Thomas
Kai Toteh is a political analyst and author of
"America's Runaway Prisoner," and the
novel, "African Child."
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