Monrovia, Liberia – In an ongoing manslaughter and negligent homicide case concerning the murder of Ntoumbi Toni Khumalo Jackson, the wife of Liberian economist Samuel Jackson, state prosecutors have disputed the legality of a property assessment bond submitted by the defense.
Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie is presiding over the Republic of Liberia v. Samuel Jackson case at Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The Ministry of Justice, via the prosecution team, has filed objections to the Defendant’s Property Valuation Bond, claiming that it is legally flawed and ought to be canceled, according to court documents.
The $20,000 bond, backed by Denco Liberia Inc., was allegedly issued without the necessary approval from the Ministry of Finance or the Central Bank of Liberia, according to the prosecutors.
The state prosecutors also claimed that, in keeping with Liberian law, approving such a bond constitutes a “condition precedent” for a legitimate bond. The prosecution claims tthai the bail fails to comply with the Supreme Court rules, referencing Royal Pharmacy v. Sylla & Co. Bakery (1996).
“The purported bond does not conform to the requirements… mandated by the Honorable Supreme Court…,” Government lawyers added.
Additionally, prosecutors argued that it is difficult to correctly identify the property used as collatera pointing out that the “the Deed annexed has no writing on it to enable Plaintiff identify the property properly.” Prosecutors emphasized that in bond proceedings, collateral must be clearly identified.
Judge Willie, the resident judge of Criminal Court “A,” is being asked by the Ministry of Justice to conduct an investigation into the surety’s financial capacity and suspected violations of the law noting that if the defense team failed to justify the said bond, the state prosecutors are recommending penalty.
It is anticipated that the court will make a decision on Friday about the granting or denial of the bond. On record, the defense has not yet reacted.
