Africa-Press – Liberia. Magisterial courts in Nimba County have been accused of asking complainants for money to execute arrests, but Gompa City Solicitor Habakkuk Gono says it is not mandatory.
Magisterial Courts in Nimba County have been accused of demanding money from complainants for transportation. They allegedly request between 40 and 50 thousand Liberian Dollars from complainants seeking justice for transportation purposes.
The defendants, some of whom are rape and murder victims, are required to pay such huge sums of money to transport suspects, including court workers, who usually use commercial motorbikes as a mode of transport from Ganta to Saclepea, Bahn, Tappita, Yekepa, Karnplay, BUU-YAO and Gbei – Dru districts, among other places to arrest suspects.
The complainants, who asked for anonymity, explained that because they were requested to pay such a large amount of money to court officials, most of them, who couldn’t afford it, abandoned seeking justice and allowed their access to go with impunity.
Speaking to the NEW DAWN, the City Solicitor at the Gompa Magisterial Court, Habakkuk Gono, confirmed the collection of money from victims in order to transport suspects to Sanniquellie.
Mr. Gono blamed the government for not funding various county and city solicitors to buttress their work.
However, he clarified that the court only pleads with families of crime victims seeking justice to help with transportation, but it is not a compulsory requirement.
The City Solicitor revealed that since taking office about four years ago, the government has not provided funding to enable court officers to go out and execute arrests against suspects, so they are constrained to ask complainants for financial help.
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