Having served his six months sentenced at the South Beach prison facility, Prophet Key was yet to see daylight on Thursday, August 13, when this newspaper went to bed.
Though his six-month prison sentence has ended, the questions over his compliance with additional conditions imposed by the Supreme Court appear to have affected his expected release.
Prophet Key served his six-month sentence; issued the required apology, and filed the required behavior bond. He also published the apology in three dailies for a total of five days.
However, the publications, the court said, were not made for five consecutive days as required. “There was a break between the publication days.”
As a result, while Key may have substantially complied with the Court’s conditions, questions remain over whether he fully complied with the specific publication requirement.
The issue is not simply the expiration of the six-month sentence, but whether all additional conditions attached to the Court’s order were satisfied. Whether the non-consecutive publication legally warrants continued detention remains a matter for the Supreme Court or relevant authorities to determine.
Meanwhile, Justin Oldpa Yeazeahn, popularly known as Prophet Key has remained at the Monrovia Central Prison on “criminal contempt.”
It was a decision from the Supreme Court that sentenced Prophet Key to six months.
He was jailed for raining insults on the mother of Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, and also brought the court into public disrepute.
In its ruling on Friday, February 13, the court said, Prophet Key has violated the constitution, specifically article five of the 1986 Constitution, which authorizes the State to ensure that all free speech, and action must be designed to preserve, protect, and promote positive cultural, and traditional values that are compatible with public policy, and national progress.
The court added that article 14 of the 1986 Constitution also provides that all persons shall be entitled to freedom of thought, freedom of conscience, and freedom of religion, and no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment thereof, except as may be required by law to protect public safety, order, health, or morale or the fundamental rights, and freedom of others.
The court also maintained that article 15 of the 1986 Constitution guarantees freedom of speech to all citizens, but with caveat that the individual shall be responsible for the abuse thereof.
The court continues in its ruling that Liberia as a civilized African nation respects, and recognizes the cultural traditional norms that guide all civilized nations, and regards the womanhood of all women.
The Supreme Court’s ruling states that Prophet Key has over the years engaged in invectives, vulgar languages, profanities, and outright abuse against prominent Liberians, especially women, and now the mother of the sitting Chief Justice.
The Court maintained that his action runs contrary to the spirit, letters, and intent of the constitution, and that is action constitutes contempt of the Supreme Court.
The constitutional violation as stated by the highest court led to the six months, or 180 days imprisonment at the Monrovia Central Prison.
The court also mandated that before Prophet Key is released from prison, he should publish a letter of apology to the Supreme Court, and all Liberians, especially the women in three widely circulated newspapers for five consecutive days.
As part of his pre-condition for his release, Prophet Key was ordered to execute, and or file a behavior bond with the Clerk of the Supreme Court indicating that he will never use invectives, and vulgar languages, profanities, or outright abuse of any Liberian.
