By Garmah Lomoh|contributor
Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice headed by Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay has set next Tuesday August 25,2020 to decide the Fate of Ex-CBL officials Milton A. Weeks and others after listening to final Argument today August 19,2020, from both parties.
State prosecutors during the final Argument in court said they have proved their case beyond all reasonable doubt and court should hold the defendants Milton A. Weeks, David Farhat, Kollie Tamba and Elsie Dossen Badio liable for the excess printing of the 10bn which 2.6 billions were accounted for.
According to state prosecutors, they produced witnesses to testified to the Presidential investigative Team report and other documents during the trial adding that there was broad resolution signed for excess printing of the L$10bn.
State prosecutors in their final argument said despite the excess printing of the L$ 10bn to remove the multilated legal tendency, Liberians are still receiving multilated Liberian Dollars banknotes.
They therefore request court to take judicial notice of the legal memorandum file before the court in order to find the Defendants guilty all of charges leived against them.
While, former CBL Governor Milton A. Weeks Counselor Abraham Sillah when a defendant is charged with an offense, it must be proved beyond all reasonable a practice of their law which the state prosecutors failed to do so.
Cllr. Sillah said, the crime theft of property one should be held for the crime theft property if it is a property owned by someone,or deprived another person from their property or covert it for your own personal use something that was proved by the state.
He argued that all charges leived against his client Weeks none was proved by the state and further request court to take Judicial notice of their legal memorandum.
While, former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and other counselors for defendants David Farhat, Kollie Tamba and Elsie Dossen Badio said that the broad of Governors of the CBL didn’t play any major role in the printing of the excess Liberian Dollars banknotes during the discharge of their duty.
Cllr. Scott added that the broad of Governors don’t participate in the day to day activities of the CBL but rather meet four times in a year for meeting so how can they be a part?
She therefore asked court to dismissed those charges against her clients and return their clients bonds.
The missing L$16bn which sparked out huge protest name and style Bring Back Our Money headed by Student Activist Martin K.N. Kollie in 2018 is now coming to an end.
The former CBL officials including Liberia’s ex president son Charles E. Sirleaf were indicted in June of 2019 for the commission of the crimes economic Sabotage, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal facilitation, among others but later was amended when money laundering added.
In May of this year, state lawyers dropped charges against son of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Charles E. Sirleaf who was the then Deputy Bank Governor for operations with prejudice to the state followed by formers Director of finance department, Dorbor M. Hagba, Richard H. Walker, director for operations and Joseph Dennis deputy director, internal audit.
Changes were dropped against Dorbor M. Hagba, Richard H. Walker and Joseph Dennis but it is yet to be known whether prejudice to the state or without prejudice to the state.
Charles E. Sirleaf and others Defendants charges were dropped in line with Chapter 18 section 18.1 of the Criminal procedure law which states
The prosecuting attorney may by leave of court file a dismissal of an indictment or complaint or of a count contained therein as to either all or some of the defendants. The prosecution shall thereupon terminate to the extent indicated in the dismissal.
Thereafter, new indictment was drawn against the former CBL broad of Governors including the then Governor Milton A. Weeks.
CBL Broad of Governors who are currently on trial for printing L$ 10bn without the approval of the Legislature are David M. Farhat, Elsie Dossen Badio, Kollie Tamba and Milton A. Weeks
The Ex-CBL broad of Governors were charged with the crimes of Economic Sabotage, theft of property, fraud on the internal revenue of Liberia, misuse of public money or fund, property or record, theft and or illegal disbursement of public money, Criminal Conspiracy and facilitation respectively.
During the trial proceedings, state lawyers produced two regular, five Subpoenaed and one rebuttal witnesses.
While, the defend lawyers produced, eight Subpoenaed, one expert and one general witnesses.
Both Kroll and Presidential investigative report showed that no money got missing at CBC but rather there were discrepencies and procedure errors that were not observed during the printing process of the money.
The former CBL officials were indicted by state for the crimes of Economic Sabotage, theft of property, fraud on the internal revenue of Liberia, Misuse of public money, property or record, theft and or illegal disbursement of public money, Criminal Conspiracy and facilitation respectively.
