By: Varney Dukuly
MONROVIA: In the face of mounting and vehement public condemnations as it relates to the recent alleged attacks on the home of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, there appears to be more questions than answers on the matter.
On February 22, 2023, Justice Scott raised alarm that some unidentified persons attacked her Brewerville residence and subjected occupants of her house to acts of violence and lawlessness.
The attacks, according reports, were carried out on three occasions, which subsequently led to the killing of her daughter and the injuring of two others.
During one of the alleged three-time attacks, the attackers made away with some of her belongings including laptop (computer), bag of 25kg rice and ransacked documents in her vehicle.
Following the reported attacks on Justice Scott’s home, former Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Chairman, Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier Sr., disclosed via SPOON Talk Show, alleging that the attacks on the former Chief Justice’s home were masterminded by Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee.
Verdier also alleged that Justice Scott’s daughter, Charloe Musu, was also killed by Varlee Telleh, a former officer of the erstwhile Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU), who worked in the office of Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee and that the act was allegedly masterminded by Koijee.
However, as this paper attempts to investigate the incident, our staff writer yesterday visited the Ministry of Justice and the Headquarter of the Liberia National Police (LNP), to get updates as it relates to preliminary investigation of the incident.
At the Ministry of Justice, authoritative sources who prefer anonymity because they are not clothed with the authority to speak to the media on the matter and for security reasons disclosed that Justice Minister, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, is currently out of the country and at such, he could not be reached for comment on the issue.
However, our sources hinted that the government has dispatched a team of senior police officers to speak with Justice Gloria Musu Scott in line with the preliminary probe of the incident.
The sources indicated that the Team from the Police could not get the necessary cooperation from Justice Scott. At one point, sources said, Justice Scott allegedly told the team that she was traumatized, and as such, she could not talk to the Police.
According to sources that are familiar with the investigation, Justice Scott then pleaded with the Team for her to meet them at a later day and time.
The unimpeachable sources who are familiar with the investigation of the incident also hinted this paper that a team of investigators including Representatives of the Liberia National Police (LNP), encouraged Justice Scott on nearly six different occasions for discussion of the incident but all attempts failed.
Nevertheless, according to the sources, the former Chief Justice has not been forthcoming with information surrounding the reported incident.
Howbeit, in a compound on the out-skirt, a thirty minutes’ drive from Monrovia, in Brewerville, Montserrado County, three youngsters along with former Chief Justice Gloria Scott were reportedly attacked by some unknown individuals.
The alleged attacks led to the killing of Charloe Musu, a prospective graduate of the Starz University College, the stabbing of Alice Johnson, wounding of Gertrude Newton and the alleged attempt on the life of former Chief Justice.
The situation generated widespread public reactions, with many calling for justice and speedy investigations of all those suspected to be involved in the acts.
Yet, sources further explained that Justice Scott has been postponing talking with the Police investigation team since the alleged incident took place on February, 22, 2023.
Our sources added that, at one point in time, she wanted her lawyers to be present which is in line with her constitutional right.
According to our sources, today March 2, 2023, will marks eight days since the alleged attacks on Justice Scott’s home occurred but without the occupants of said house including the former Chief Justice providing information to the Police and other state investigators.
Sources also confided in this paper, that the government is making frantic efforts through the various civil society organizations including the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia, Liberia National Bar Association, and Liberia Council of Churches for their intervention and for Justice Scott to cooperate with the LNP investigation on the incident.
Moreover, the LNP, through its Spokesman, Moses Carter, in a telephone conversation with OK FM on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, said Police authorities are hoping to get official comments from Justice Scott regarding the incident at her residence.
“If such a thing happened and no one is around, it is dependent on people who have useful information that will help with police investigation to be able to avail said information,” Carter stressed.
However, in a recent statement said to be issued by the Family of Justice Scott, they expressed disappointment in the LNP and declared that they (Scott’s family) don’t have confidence in the Police to handle the investigation.
The murder of Charloe Musu, has triggered widespread and vehement public condemnations in the country, with incessant calls for all those who may be involved in such act to be identified and prosecuted as required by the laws of the country.
Among institutions and groups that have expressed disdain (scorn) and repugnance (dislike) over the attacks during which other family members of the ex-Chief Justice sustained injuries on their body parts include the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), former Vice President, and Standard Bearer of the former ruling Unity Party, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, People’s Action Network, a civil Society outfit, among others.
In a strong-worded statement issued in Monrovia, the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), has condemned what it calls the “outrageous attacks and pure act of savagery,” carried out at the residence of former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott, which resulted into the death of her daughter, a graduating Senior of the Starz University College in Sinkor and the injuries of other family members.
Amid intense public uproar, the City Mayor of Monrovia Jefferson Koijee along with Varlee Telleh who has been accused by former TRC Commissioner Jerome Verdier of bankrolling and executing the attacks on the former Chief Justice on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 appeared before the Liberian National Police as persons of interest.
Speaking on behalf of his client at the LNP headquarters on Capitol Hill, Cllr. Arthur Johnson said his client (Koijee) decided to wave his rights to clarify speculations linking him to criminal action, “my advice to the police is that they should invite the Cllr. Verdier to come and explain or provide the evidence he claimed to have.”
Cllr. Johnson told reporters minutes after the meeting with the Police Investigation Team that “the law is evidenced and not political science”, terming the proceeding involving the Mayor and Telleh as a formal criminal investigation.
