By: H. Richard Fallah
MONROVIA: The Solicitor General of Liberia, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, who is also Liberian government’s Chief Prosecutor, ‘has fallen from grace’ after he was slammed with indefinite suspension and US$250 fined for allegedly tempering with jurors in the murder trial involving Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, and three of her family members.
Cllr. Tuan has been suspended by Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Willie, after he allegedly sneaked his way into the Jury`s Quarter.
Judge Roosevelt Willie did not only suspend the government’s Chief Prosecutor but also fined him US$250 for his action that is inimical to due process of law.
According to the Judiciary’s Security Officers account, the Solicitor General, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, entered the Temple of Justice premises on Capitol Hill in Monrovia at 8:00 p.m. last Wednesday and had a conversation with the Police Officers assigned at the Jury Quarter but did not interact or interfere with any of the Jurors.
In his response to the investigation report, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan admitted in open court that he indeed, visited the premises of the Temple of Justice which hosts the Criminal Court “A” at 5:30 and met with the Judiciary Security Services assigned at the gate where two of judicial security personnel escorted him to see his officers who are assigned at the Jury Quarter, but he did not interact or interfere with any of the Jurors.
The government’s senior prosecuting lawyer noted that his reason for visiting was to advise his officers to be vigilant and careful in the performance of their duty at the Jury Quarter because he did not want to experience the same situation that occurred with the recent controversial US$100 Million drugs case that was held in Criminal Court ‘C’ at the Temple of Justice wherein the Liberian government was legally defeated.
The Solicitor General further stated that they got information concerning the trial jurors who were sequestered during the US$100million dollars drug case which was not favorable for the government, and as such, the Trial Jurors who were sequestered brought down a not guilty verdict in favor of all of the Defendants.
After the admittance of the Solicitor General that he indeed visited the premises of the Temple of Justice at that hour without any notice to the Court, along with police officers, the Court ruled that Cllr. Nyenati Tuan be suspended from further taking part in the trial as one of the government prosecution Lawyers.
He was subsequently fined an amount of USS250.00 to be paid in the Judiciary Account within 72 hours or three days, effective as of the date of the court ruling.
The Court further ruled that the officers including Amos Korkollie, Titus Massah, Webster J. Paye and Lassana Liazolu with whom the Solicitor General interacted with, are hereby expelled from further forming part of the security team that is currently assigned at the Jury Quarter.
Judge Willie, has at the same time, ordered the Clerk to write the Inspector General (IG) of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Patrick Sudue, to forward the names of four new (different) police officers through the Court.
It may be recalled that in June 2023, the former Chief Justice, along with three of her family members were charged with murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and giving false testimony to Law Enforcement officers relating to the gruesome killing of Charloe Musu, daughter of the former Chief Justice.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the Liberian government, through the Ministry of Justice, conducted an autopsy on the remains of Charloe aimed at establishing the actual cause of her death.
According to the provisional autopsy report, Charloe Musu’s death was caused by exsanguinations, massive left hemothorax and left lung collapse.
Exsanguination means to use a sharp object to pierce a person in many times in a violent manner, according to medical practitioners.
The government’s hired pathologist, Dr Benedict Kolee, who conducted the autopsy further revealed that two of the injuries on the deceased left side cut a blood vessel under her rib.
He indicated in said provisional report that the deceased bled profusely outside and inside.
He added that the bleeding inside filled her left side chest and damaged the left lung.
The government pathologist however indicated that said provisional report is just a hint as the actual cause of death will be contained in his Final Report.
It is not clear as to whether or not the Final Report has been completed and submitted to the relevant authorities.
