Information received today, Friday, January 11, 2013, from Monrovia suggests that there might be a formidable legal team for the 27 Grand Gedeans detained at the Monrovia Central Prison, otherwise known as “South Beach”.
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| Grand Gedeans in detention at South Beach in Monrovia |
According to our sources, there
will be a 9-man legal team. On the list and with whom negotiation is ongoing
include Cllrs. T. Dempster Brown, Tiawan Gongloe, Arthur Johnson, and Sayma
Syrenius Cephus.
Others are Cllrs. Dexter Teah,
Nicholas Edward, and two others only identified as Cllr. Sheriff and Cllr.
Sesay. When contacted to confirm the information, the President of the Gbarzon
District Youth, Arthur Tenty told me today that he met with Cllr. Johnson who
confirmed that frantic negotiation is ongoing with the lawyers to form part of
the defense team.
According our sources and
confirmed by Mr. Tenty, the lawyers have been divided into two separate parts:
Cllrs. Dempster Brown, Arthur Tenty, Tiawan Gongloe, Cllr. Sheriff and Cllr.
Sesay will be taking on the extradition hearing against an equally crack
government prosecution team.
For the main case that begins by
next week, Cllrs. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Cllr. Brown, Cllr. Johnson, Cllr.
Dexter Teah and Cllr. Nicholas Edward will be at the Criminal Court “A” to
defend the legal interest of Oforie Diah, Nezee Barway, Bobby Sarpee Julu and
others.
Also confirming the information,
Cllr. Arthur Johnson told me on phone today that the lawyers have consented to
forming part of the defense team. “All my colleagues I talked to have agreed to
form part of our team,” Cllr. Johnson said.
The lawyers have so far reserved
comments. If the negotiation comes to fruition, it is expected that the 27
Grand Gedeans will get a reasonably good legal representation. However, there
are indications that most if not all of them may form part of the team.
In a related development, it has
been confirmed that 20 of the 27 Grand Gedeans have been formally charged. Of
the 20 that were charged and/or indicted, the government of Liberia is seeking legal
permission to extradite seven of them. The prosecution’s application at the
lower court seeking permission to transfer the seven detainees is being
challenged by the defense team. The hearing of the extradition petition is
expected to take place next week.
Our sources said the remaining
seven of the 27 are yet to be charged but are still in detention at the
Monrovia City Court. It is not known what their charges will be, but our
lawyers are certain that they may as well be charged with murder, rape, and
other similar charges levied on the 20 already indicted.
Meanwhile, the Gbarzon District
Youth President, Mr. Arthur Tenty has been meeting with senior and opinion
leaders Grand Gedeans in his effort to galvanize broad-based support for
campaign to obtain justice for the 27 Grand Gedeans. Mr. Tenty has so far met
with Mr. Thomas Nimely Yaya, former head of the defunct MODEL, Dr. George
Boley, former political leader of the defunct LPC, and he and other youths are
expected to meet with Mr. Bai M. Gbala today, Saturday, at Mr. Gbala’s
residence. Details of his discussion with the senior Grand Gedeans are being
kept on low key, but he said soon the details will be made known.
Gibson W. Jerue
For and on behalf of Concerned
Grand Gedeans
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