State Prosecutors Seek to Include Montserrado District #12 Lawmaker in the Ongoing Arson Trial

State Prosecutors Seek to Include Montserrado District #12 Lawmaker in the Ongoing Arson Trial

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, is making a frantic effort to include Montserrado County Electoral District # 12 Representative Jerry K. Yogboh in the December 18, 2024, Capitol Building arson trial.

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State lawyers have subsequently filed a motion to amend the indictment, requesting that Representative Yogboh be named as a co-defendant in the much much-publicized case.

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State prosecutors reference Article 14, Subchapter 14.7 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia, contending that the motion to amend the indictment is both lawful and necessary.

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According to state lawyers, new findings allegedly linked Representative Yogboh to the arson attack on the Capitol Building.

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However, defense lawyers objected to prosecution's motion to include Representative Yogboh terming the move as legally flawed and procedurally weak.

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The defense lawyers counter-argued that Representative Yogboh was not initially mentioned in the original indictment, and was never mentioned during preliminary investigations.

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The defense further contended that the prosecutorsโ€™ attempt to implicate a sitting legislator without clear evidence appears politically motivated and unsupported by law.

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meanwhile, after entertaining arguments from both sides, Criminal Court โ€œAโ€ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie is expected to rule on the motion as the trial continues.