28 Jurors Rejected -As Juror J30-9131 Ordered Arrested By: Yassah J. Wright

On Monday, March 3, 2025, all  twenty eight (28) jurors that appeared in Samuel D. Tweah and his co-defendants corruption saga for screening were rejected by both the defendants and prosecution lawyers. Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie said the court has been calling up prospective Jurors for screening and subsequent qualification, five persons at a time, but unfortunately, all of

the prospective jurors that were called up for questioning or screening and subsequent selection were rejected by the lawyers on both sides of the defendants and prosecution of the Bar. Judge Willie said they observed that only one person is left over and that one person cannot be called out because the court had earlier been calling out five persons at a time since the prospective jurors list for Criminal Court “C” has been exhausted. The Judge Willie also noted that except one person the court hereby orders or mandates the Jury Management Department to bring forth twenty-six (26) other jurors to be added to the one already here to make the list twenty seven (27) for screening and subsequent examination in the next sitting. He emphasized that one of the jurors with ID Number J30-9131,  name is mentioned on the form and  works with the National Bureau of Concession as Assistant Director for Gender was absent without any cause.  He later told the clerk of Court “C” to hereby issue a “Writ of Arrest” for this juror to appear in court on today, March 5, 2025, prior to the calling of the case. Judge Willie indicated that juror J30-9131, should show cause why she should not be held in Contempt and forwarded to jail for fourteen days or pay a fine of US$100. Accordingly, the time being fast spent, Judge Willie said the proceedings are hereby suspended for Monday and will resume on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 9:00am prompt.  He noted that all parties being present, Monday minutes serve as notice of assignment and it is hereby so ordered and the matter suspended. Samuel D.Tweah, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, Stanley S. Ford, Jefferson Karmoh and D. Moses P. Cooper, will stand trial on the multiple charges that includes; Theft and Illegal Disbursement and Expenditure of Public Money Section 15.82, Theft of Property, Criminal Conspiracy and Criminal Facilitation. The defendants lawyers said in open court that the money in question the government want to Prosecute Tweah, Tuan, Ford, Karmoh and Cooper for was spent while they was serving during their time of the past government and that money was spent, they were acting based upon the National Security Reformed and Intelligence Act of 2011. Tweah, Tuan, Ford, Karmoh and Cooper lawyers argued that based on legal and factual reasons, their clients were all members of the National Security Council (NSC) of Liberia who were responsible for carrying out the functions of the National Security Council of Liberia, chaired by the President of Liberia, consistent with the National Security Council Reform and Intelligence Act of 2011. That as agents and advisors to the President of the Republic and the National Security Council, the Movants exercised discretionary authority in matters critical to national security and governance, and NSRI of 2011 prohibits from disclosure of any information that come to them by virtu of being members of the National

Security Council. (See Bryant v RL et al [2007] LRSC 10 (11 May 2007); Porte v Dennis [1947] LRSC 1; 9 LLR 213 (1947) (24 January 1947); On executive privilege and immunity and the principle of executive immunity as established in Nixon v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 731 (1982); Trump V. United States 604 U.S. 593 (2024). That the investigation conducted by the LACC, from which grew the Indictment now subject of this motion and the case currently venue before this Court surround activities and actions of members of the National Security Council of Liberia, which activities, under the laws cited supra in this motion, prohibit the disclosure of information which cannot be subject of judicial review. Prosecution maintains that the defendants surfer waiver and lashes, and therefore, they cannot cure said defects, especially so, when they themselves have taken one step beyond their pleas by invoking their right to jury trial. Hence, motion to dismiss the indictment will not lie, and the entire motion should be denied. The government lawyers further told the Court to deny, dismiss and quash defendants motion to dismiss the Indictment. Chapter 16, subsection 16.7 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia, Captioned “Motion to dismiss raising defenses and objections before trial. They pointed out that the motion to dismiss shall be made before plea is entered, but the court may permit it to be made within a reasonable time thereafter. Prosecution says in keeping with statutory provision referenced above, and for the purpose of determining whether or not, the Movants are entitle to benefit from a motion to dismiss an indictment they have pleaded to? Respondent submits and says that the Statute is unequivocally clear by using the mandatory word “Shall”, meaning, the defendants were under obligation to dive filed their so called motion to dismiss the indictment prior to their pleas.