Liberia: 2 Convicted for 'Misapplying Ruling Party Money'
.... “Because of the defendant’s inability to produce Chairmen Doe and Morlu to validate their claims, the court thereby convicts and sentences them to six months imprisonment at the Harper central prison. They are to also restore the L$250K to Camp Palm High School,” the ruling said.
The dreams and desires of Victor Williams and Sawlodi Doe to massively canvass for President George Weah’s reelection have hit a huge roadblock as they may no longer be able to do so.
They are not even eligible anymore to vote for him if their appeal against their conviction is not granted. Williams and Doe, who are among the staunchest of the President's supporters leading his reelection campaign in Maryland County, have been convicted for misapplication of entrusted property of L$250Kand sentenced to six months imprisonment even though they are appealing their sentence.
According to a ruling by the Harper Magisterial Court, Williams and Doe, who are executives of a Consortium for the President's reelection in Maryland County, were given L$250K on April 11 by Mulbah Morlu, Chairman of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, for donation to the Cape Palmas High School. However, the money was never distributed.
During the trial, Williams and Doe opted to represent themselves in court instead of hiring the services of a lawyer and pleaded not guilty to the charges of misapplication of entrusted property.
“The purpose of the funds, according to the CDC chairman, was for the schools to undertake student council projects, and the L$100Kwas for the school to transport the students who had gone to see him back home,” state witness Annie Sleweon said.
But Williams, in his testimony, told the Court that while Morlu promised L$1 million for school projects and an additional L$100,000 for transportation, there was a change of instructions later from Morlu himself and the party Maryland Chapter chairman, Cyrieas Doe.
“Doe and Morlu demanded some part of the L$1 million for some guys at the city hall who were dissatisfied,” Williams said.
Doe told the Court that he was not around when the instruction was changed, but remembered that L$155K was distributed among the other schools.
However, Doe noted that Cape Palmas High refused its portion of the money, expressing dissatisfaction over the manner in which the money was distributed.
The Court, after hearing the case, determined that the duo were guilty of the crime and ordered that the funds be restituted and presented to the school.
“Because of the defendant’s inability to produce Chairmen Doe and Morlu to validate their claims, the court thereby convicts and sentences them to six months imprisonment at the Harper central prison. They are to also restore the L$250K to Camp Palm High School,” the ruling said.
Williams and Doe, however, took exception to the Harper Magistrate Court ruling and filed an appeal before a Circuit Court in Maryland.
They have been given 15 working days to perfect their appeals before a determination is made. Failure to do so, the judgment made by the magisterial court stands.