Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice has ordered the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to provide an update on the custody, education and welfare of 14 children rescued from five Liberian women convicted of human trafficking in March of this year.
Sitting in Chambers ahead of the opening of the November 2026 Term of Court, Judge Willie, in a communication addressed to Gender Minister Gbemei Horace-Kollie, directed the Ministry to confirm whether the 14 minors remain in an approved safe home and are receiving the care and protection mandated by the court.
Judge Willie also instructed the sheriff of Criminal Court “A” to visit the facility, conduct a physical headcount and report the findings to the court. Alternatively, the Ministry may bring the children to the Temple of Justice for Judge Willie to verify their number and assess their general well-being. The Ministry was ordered to provide information on the children’s custody and documentary evidence of their school enrollment by Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
The Judge’s directive seeks to enforce an earlier ruling issued in March 2026, following the conviction of Halimatu Daramy, Hareita Beaye, Grace H. Sesay, Hawa Kamara and Famata Doe, who were each sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after a unanimous guilty verdict. The women were prosecuted on charges including Trafficking In-Persons, Criminal Conspiracy, Endangering the Life of Another Person and Interference with Child Custody.
The 14 children, reportedly seven boys and seven girls ranging from three months to 11 years old, were intercepted by officers of the Liberia Immigration Service in the Red-Light Community of Paynesville while allegedly being prepared for illegal transportation to Burkina Faso.
Following the convictions, Judge Willie ordered the Ministry of Gender to keep the children in a safe home and provide feeding, clothing, healthcare, education and other necessities until their biological parents or legitimate relatives are scientifically established through court-authorized DNA testing. Judge Willie further directed anyone claiming to be a parent or immediate relative to file a Bill of Information before the court considers approving DNA examinations.
The latest order places renewed responsibility on the Ministry to demonstrate compliance with the court’s directives. The requested headcount and school records are expected to help establish whether the children remain under appropriate protection and are receiving the services required by the judgment.
The case initially came before Magistrate L. Ben Barco of the Monrovia City Court, who ordered the women detained following their arrest.
While the convictions and prison sentences marked a major development in the prosecution, the court’s latest intervention shifts attention to the children’s protection and the government’s responsibility to safeguard their welfare.
As of the issuance of the directive, no response from the Ministry or findings from the proposed headcount were included in the information available for this report. The Ministry’s compliance will be critical in determining whether the education and basic needs are being addressed in accordance with the court’s ruling.
