Report by Massa Kanneh-masskanneh4@gmail.com
Barley three days after Criminal Court “C” granted Bail bond to indicted Central Bank officials, prosecutors have requested one week to gather witnesses for the trial.
During the proceedings on Monday, Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation Wesseh A Wesseh told the Court that he has a letter from the County Attorney of Montserrado and wanted the Letter read.
In the Letter, the County Attorney, Edwin Kla Martin requested the Court to grant Prosecutors one week to get witnesses in order to proceed with the trial.
According to the County’s letter, witnesses in the case are the materials to the Case but are currently out of the country.
The letter furthered, that the demand or request is not intended to delay the case, adding, the case would resume upon the witnesses return.
Meanwhile, Counsel for Defendants, Charles Sirleaf and Milton Weeks rejected the submission, stating, it was only intended to delay the defendants’ rights to speedy trial.
Counselor Johnny Momoh told the Court that Prosecutors request for Continuance to obtain Witnesses is ambiguous.
Counselor Momoh explained to the Court that Prosecutors have also refused to name the Witnesses that are out of the bailiwick of Liberia.
However, Judge Peter Gbeneweleh granted a week to prosecutors to gather their witnesses, stating that, it was the prosecution’s first time making such request.
This Case grew out of the Missing 16 billion case investigation.
Defendants Milton Weeks, Charles Sirleaf, Dobor Hogba, Richard Walker and Joseph Dennis who were all charged with economy sabotage, Criminal Conspiracy and Criminal facilitation are being tried on allegations of illegally printing over Five Billion Liberian Dollars and diverting said amount into their personal accounts.
