Liberia: Court Clears Solicitor General of Jury Tampering Allegations

Judge Roosevelt Willie of Criminal Court 'A' has found Solicitor General Nyenti Tuan not guilty of the “criminal charge of jury tampering.”

The judge's decision, delivered on October 4, comes as a significant development in the ongoing trial of former Chief Justice Gloria Musu-Scott and her family, who are facing allegations of murder.

The trial, which has gripped the nation's attention since its inception, took an unexpected turn when the  Jury Management Team of the Supreme Court accused the Solicitor General of allegedly tampering with the jury during a visit to the Court beyond work hours.

According to the ruling of Criminal Court ‘A’, while the allegation against Tuan raised about potential misconduct, there was insufficient proof to convict him of any wrongdoing.

Willie noted that the testimonies given by witnesses during open court sessions indicated that the “Solicitor General did not have direct contact with the jurors” but rather interacted with officers of the Liberia National Police assigned at the Court to keep guard on the jury.

“The court,” he said, “concluded that there was no evidence of jury tampering by Tuan”  and that the jurors would remain intact and not disbanded.

The judge, however, did not reinstate Tuan as the prosecutor in the Musu-Scott case — a decision that angered the prosecution who argued that “Willie lacked the authority to suspend a lawyer” — which is the power of the Supreme Court.

Willie had suspended Tuan from the case after the allegation emerged — citing the need for fairness and impartiality.

The judge's ruling on October 4 comes as a result of an investigation ordered by Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokolie, whose goal was to probe the authenticity of the allegations. The defense lawyers had requested such studies. 

Willie had in mid-Sepetmber received a formal complaint from  Jury Management and that of the Judiciary Security Services, alleging that Tuan secretly entered the premises of the Temple of Justice at 8:00 PM,  and proceeded to the jurors' quarters and engaged with the police assigned to protect the jurors from interference and manipulation. 

In response, Tuan had earlier confirmed that he had visited the Temple of Justice premises on September 12, as mentioned in the complaints, but contested the time. 

According to him, his visit occurred around 5:30 to 6:00 PM, not 8:00 PM as stated and he only met with Judiciary Security Services personnel and the police officers but did not interact or interfere with any of the jurors.

Tuan explained that he did so centered on his desire to advise his officers to exercise vigilance and care in their duties at the Jury Quarter. He cited a prior case — the US$100 million drug case heard in Criminal Court ‘C’,  which the government lost due to last-minute information that favored the defendants. 

Willie then noted that considering Tuan’s acknowledgment, he was being suspended from participating in the trial as one of the government lawyers. Additionally, he imposed a US$250 fine, which the Daily Observer cannot confirm if it has been paid or not.

The Judge also expelled Amos Korkollie, Titus Massah, Webster J. Paye, and Lassana Liazolu, who were assigned to the Jury Quarter and had interacted with the Solicitor General.