Solicitor General Suspended from Charloe Musu Murder Case for Juror Tampering

MONROVIA – Liberia’s Solicitor General, Nyanti Tuan, has been suspended from the Charloe Musu murder case following allegations of tampering with sequestered jurors. The case revolves around former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and three family members who stand accused of murdering her daughter in their home on the night of February 22, between 9:00 and 10:00 PM.

Judge Roosevelt Willie’s decision to suspend Tuan came after reports from the Judiciary Security Services and the Jury Management, indicating that the Solicitor General had attempted to gain access to the Temple of Justice premises after court hours on September 15.

In response to these allegations, Judge Willie convened a special proceeding in chambers, inviting state and defense lawyers to address the accusations against Liberia’s Solicitor General.

According to reports submitted to the court, Judicial Security observed Tuan attempting to enter the premises around 8:00 PM on September 15. After being denied entry, he returned through an alternate entrance with no security personnel present and engaged with officers responsible for the jurors, who were preparing to retire to their quarters.

During the special proceeding, Cllr. Tuan admitted to being at the Temple of Justice during the sequestration of jurors but claimed he had no intention of interfering with them. He asserted that he had arrived at the premises around 5:00 to 6:00 PM, contradicting the reported time of the incident.

However, credible sources within the court confirmed that his statement regarding the timing of his arrival was inaccurate.

Explaining his actions, the Solicitor General stated that he had visited the Temple of Justice to interact with the police officers responsible for safeguarding the jurors. He expressed concern that external factors might influence the jurors’ judgment, referencing the previous 100-million-dollar cocaine case in Criminal Court “C” where the government suffered a loss.

Tuan emphasized, “We do not want to experience the same situation that occurred with the 100-million-dollar drug case that was held in Criminal Court ‘C,’ wherein the government lost that case.” He stressed the need for vigilance among officers assigned to the jurors to prevent a “Not Guilty Verdict” in this case.

Legal experts note that officers assigned to a jury in a court proceeding are expected to maintain impartiality and prevent any influence from parties involved, including state prosecutors or defense lawyers. Any request to interact with jurors should be communicated to the court in writing, with supervision from the court.

In response to these developments, Judge Roosevelt Willie suspended the Solicitor General from participating in the trial and fined him $250 for his unscheduled appearance at the court. Additionally, four officers assigned to the jury have been relieved of their duties due to their interaction with Tuan during his visit. These officers include Amos Korkollie, Titus Massah, Webster J. Paye, and Lassana Liazolu.

Legal analysts anticipate that the Charloe Musu murder case may face delays due to these incidents, with the possibility of the defense requesting the disbandment of the current jurors and the selection of a new panel.