212 Cases Remain Unattended at Eighth Judicial Circuit Court

Supreme Court of Liberia

Among these cases are 75 criminals, including 14 rapes and 11 murders and among others

The Circuit Court Judge at the Eighth Judicial Court in Nimba County has disclosed that about 212 cases are on the docket for this August Term of court and is therefore calling for collaborative effort from lawyers and party litigants to speedily try these cases.

Giving his discharge at the opening of the August Term of Court, Judge Roland F. Dahn said there are about 134 civil cases, with 69 of these civil cases emanating from 2013.  With the time duration associated with these cases, Judge Dahn in his charge called on those who have their cases from that time to this period to fast track them or else they will be placed under “File # 13.”

“We have about 68 criminal cases, murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and criminal facilitation amongst others  I am calling on the prosecution to do everything possible to ensure that these cases are speedily tried.

Criminal Court ‘E’ Judge, Hector Quainguah, Judge, outlined about 14 rape cases currently on the docket, saying,  “We want collective work to ensure that the docket is cleared.”

In response, County Attorney John Miah justified that the case load went up due to a shortfall in the prosecution funds, which led to prosecutors going on strike during the May Term of Court.

He said the lack of funding for prosecution to bring in witnesses created impediments for speedy trials, especially during the May Term of Court.

“As everything is now on course, we will ensure to bring those witnesses for speedy trial,” he said.

The opening of the August term of court was attended by some local government officials from the office of the Superintendent, the City Mayor of Sanniquellie and the county Police Detachment.

The Sanniquellie City Council, during the opening, also appealed for the speedy trial of land cases, stressing that delay in the land cases was also hindering development in the city.