Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, released Ibrahim Khalil Sheriff from the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) on bail. Judge Willie’s decision comes after former Associates Justice Mohammed Kabenah Ja’neh and Cllr. Amara Sheriff along with three other persons stood as human sureties for Sheriff’s release.
The Judge’s action, according to our judicial reporter, is due to lack of sufficient evidence submitted to the court by state lawyers who recently presented a flying sheet of paper and some money to the court as evidence against the accused.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, prosecution lawyers after being summoned by Judge Willie for failure to present to court oral and documentary evidence seized from the Guinean for reportedly attempting to overthrow the current Guinean President Mamady Doumuyah, brought to court the pieces of evidence.
The government through the Ministry of Justice presented the pieces of evidence to include cash in the tone of US$2,202 and Guinea France $171,500 plus LD$940 along with what is appeared to be a sheet or paper with items listed, perceived as receipts of ammunition purchased by defendant Ibrahim Khalil Sheriff.
The sheet or paper in the hand writing of Defendant Sheriff for which state lawyers see as one major evidence to prosecute him was shortlisted as follows: AK-47-300 for one x 40, LAR-R-450 for one x 19, PKM-600 for one x7, RPGT-1000 for one x 9 and monthe-1500 for one x4, among other items.
With this, it seemed like the prosecuting attorneys indict people on hearsay basis and don’t go after the main issues, according to our judicial reporter.
It can be recalled that Judge Willie summoned the Government of Liberia through its justice system for failure to submit to the court every piece of evidence collected and seized from Khalil Sheriff who is alleged of overthrowing the junta military government leader of Guinea Mamady Doumuyah.
Also, on Friday, September 27, 2024, the defendant through his lawyer filed a bail of information to the court stating that state lawyers have failed to present evidence as state securities claimed was collected from his client during the arrest.
Based upon this, Judge Willie on Monday, September 30, 2024, heard the bail of information and subsequently ruled that the Minister of Justice N. Oswald Tweh, Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah, Solicitor General of Liberia and Montserrado County Attorney, Richard Scott and Simeon Frank of the Liberia National Police appeared to give reasons while the evidence had not been presented to court. Prior to the above, Judge Willie’s 72 hours expired on Friday, 28, 2024, placing state lawyers in a position of not having any piece of oral or documentary evidence to present before the court.
Since the denial of the mercenary motions to bail and suppress evidence, prosecuting attorneys failed to meet up with the Criminal Court “A” Judge’s 72 hours deadline to surrender all military documents including US$150,000 seized from the Guinean National Ibrahim Khalil Sherif.
Recently, state securities announced the arrest and subsequent detention of Khalil for reportedly planning to overthrow the current military government of Guinea leader Mamady Doumbuyah through the border between Liberia and Guinea. The defendant is charged with multiple crimes ranging from Mercenarism, Armed Insurrection, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, and Paramilitary Activities.
The Judge said considering the laws stated, the case involves national and regional security and the safety of the defendant. The Judge in his ruling prevented prosecuting lawyers from extraditing the defendant back to Guinea or any other country without the legal determination in Liberia.
By T.Q Lula Jaurey
