MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Blamo Dixon on Wednesday denied Prosecution’s request to subpoena the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Boss, Dorbor Jallah to testify to documents directed to the Solicitor General of the bond proffered collectively and individually by the former government officials.
Prosecution argued that the communication sent to the SG from the LRA Boss indicated that properties proffered by one Patrick Coleman to secure the temporary release of the five officials has no identification, nor tax liability and is not in the system of the LRA.
The two properties of Fatu Kamanda and Rufus & Rufina, according to witness Coleman, is valued at 1.7 million US Dollars and 6 million respectively, with Fatu’s property in Caldwell, New Georgia, while Rufus & Rufina’s are in Virginia.
But during argument, Defense Lawyer Cllr. Arthur Johnson, told the Court that praying for a subpoena on the LRA Boss lacks the legal basis for the conduct of the hearing for a motion for justification of surety as to the elements that constitute a valid bond.
Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah’s Legal Team argued that the request for the issuance of the writs on the LRA Boss is not supported by the law, and must therefore be denied.
Earlier, Prosecution told the Court that they will produce rebuttal witnesses on the properties the Defense claimed to have proffered through Patrick Coleman, but that was resisted by the Defense Team on grounds that justification of surety does not entertain rebuttal from Prosecution, as provided for by law.
Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh, former Financial Intelligence Unit Comptroller Moses Cooper, former Solicitor General Nyenati Tuan, and former Director of the FIU Stanley Ford.
They were indicted by the Government of Liberia for allegedly stealing over six million US Dollars, and charged with multiple crimes, including economic sabotage, theft, and criminal conspiracy, among others.
