Court Asked to Restrict Travel of 15 Jurors in High-Profile Tweah Jury Tampering Case

Monrovia, Liberia:The Ministry of Justice has petitioned Criminal Court "C" to issue a Writ of Ne Exeat Republica to prevent 15 jurors connected to the Samuel Tweah/Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) jury tampering case from leaving Liberia as a criminal investigation gets underway.

The application, filed before Assigned Circuit Judge Ousman F. Feika on Friday, July 31, states that the travel restriction is necessary to ensure the jurors remain within the court's jurisdiction while investigators determine whether criminal charges should be brought against them. The Ministry argues that the order would safeguard the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

The petition was signed by Cllr. Sumo Kutu-Akoi, Chairman of the Special Investigation Committee, and identifies the jurors as Jamesetta K. W. Higgins, Patricia Neewhord, Sando Mulbah, Lucy T. Menyongai, Cynthia Tarplah, Albertine D. Bai, Siah J. Tadapolie, Mamu Anderson, Arnold Vincent, Joeviria Pinky Bai, Catherine S. Quawah, Harriet J. Togba, Maximum I. Dillion, George K. Dennis, and Saah Jonathan Bundoo.

In its filing, the Ministry maintained that the requested writ is intended to prevent the jurors from leaving the territorial jurisdiction of Liberia before the investigation is concluded. Prosecutors further contended that the restriction is necessary to avoid any possibility of the individuals evading potential criminal proceedings.

The request follows Judge Feika's July 22 ruling, which set aside the jury's acquittal in the FIA case after the court found evidence of jury misconduct and alleged tampering. The judge declared a mistrial and ordered that the matter be referred to the Ministry of Justice for criminal investigation.

Following the court's directive, Solicitor General Cllr. Augustine C. Fayiah established a five-member Special Investigation Committee, appointing Cllr. Kutu-Akoi as its chairman to lead the inquiry into the allegations surrounding the jurors' conduct during the trial.

The committee has been given one month to complete its investigation and submit a final report to the Ministry of Justice. The outcome of the investigation is expected to determine whether criminal charges will be filed against any of the jurors named in the petition.