The Monrovia Magisterial Court has officially dismissed the criminal coercion and forgery charges levied against French investor Bertrand M. Franquet.
The presiding judge, L. Barco, determined that the allegations made by the complainant, Alioune Kebe, were improperly categorized as criminal offenses rather than being handled as a civil matter, which is more appropriate for the circumstances, according to a Liberia First Online Television report.
In a comprehensive ruling delivered at the Temple of Justice, Judge Barco noted that Kebe, who serves as the Presidential Ambassador-At-Large for Sports, could not legally sustain the action against Franquet and had acted in bad faith throughout the proceedings. The judge highlighted that the evidence presented during the trial significantly undermined the central allegation of forgery, effectively dismantling Kebe’s claims.
The case traces its origins back to a complaint filed in September 2025, which stemmed from an investment agreement reportedly worth over US$500,000. Kebe, who had acted as Attorney-In-Fact for Franquet, alleged that the businessman had forged his signature on an agreement involving local stakeholders in Gmainbo Chiefdom, located in River Gee County. However, the situation was further complicated when an affidavit was submitted to the court by Kebe’s brother, Papa Djibril Kebe. This affidavit acknowledged that Papa Djibril had indeed signed the agreement and asserted that he did so with his brother’s authorization. This revelation played a critical role in weakening the prosecution’s forgery claim.
Furthermore, Judge Barco emphasized that the fundamental nature of the dispute was rooted in a commercial transaction, which legally falls outside the jurisdiction of a magisterial court. He articulated that disagreements pertaining to contracts and financial arrangements are best resolved within civil court settings rather than through criminal prosecution.
The court also referenced Rule 9, which governs proceedings in Magistrate and Traffic Courts. This rule mandates that criminal complaints of this nature must be resolved within 30 days. The judge expressed concern that this case had been pending for nearly five months, a significant delay that he argued infringed upon the rights of the accused, Franquet.
During the legal proceedings, Franquet’s defense team presented a robust argument, contending that the complaint was essentially an attempt to transform a business disagreement into a criminal matter, thereby sidestepping accountability for any financial obligations. They insisted that the court lacked the necessary subject matter jurisdiction and advocated for the dismissal of the charges against their client.
On the other hand, the prosecution, represented by City Solicitor Cllr. Younge, maintained that the charges were entirely within the court’s authority. They argued that the state held independent prosecutorial power in matters of criminal law and pointed out that no formal written authorization had been produced to legitimize the brother’s signing of the agreement, which was a crucial factor in the case.
After carefully weighing the arguments from both sides, Judge Barco ultimately dismissed the case without prejudice, thereby clearing Franquet of the criminal allegations against him. The dismissal signifies an important moment in a complex dispute that intertwines issues of private investment, public office, and interpretations of legal jurisdiction, reinforcing the necessity to clearly delineate between civil liability and criminal prosecution within Liberia’s judicial framework.
Franquet was represented by the Targus Law Group, Inc. The outcome of this case is expected to have broader implications on how similar disputes might be approached in the future, particularly in the context of investment and governance in Liberia.
