A Verity thorough investigation and a reviewed of court records show that suspects linked to a trafficking and alleged US$100,000 fraud case have not been released from the Monrovia Central Prison, contrary to reports suggesting they were expected to regain their freedom in April this year.
The case involving defendants Daniel David, Preston Y. Logan, Boimah Saweah, Johnny Dahn, Shirley Suah, Bill Dorkor, Jerome Genseh and others remains active before Criminal Court ‘A’ at the Temple of Justice.
The defendants are facing charges including trafficking in persons, theft of property, misapplication of entrusted property, and criminal facilitation.
According to the complaint, several residents of Nimba County allegedly paid more than US$100,000 to the defendants after being promised travel opportunities to Canada. Instead, the complainants alleged that they were brought to Montserrado County, kept within a private compound, and introduced to an online marketing operation. Victims also claimed repeated requests for refunds were ignored.
Court records show that a writ of arrest was issued in September 2025 ordering the defendants to appear before the Paynesville Magisterial Court for preliminary examination.
The documents reviewed by this paper show that the preliminary hearings lasted several months after defense lawyers requested a full examination of the evidence. The matter was later forwarded to the Trafficking in Persons Section of the Liberia National Police for further investigation before the defendants were formally charged and sent to court.
The accused have remained in pretrial detention since their incarceration at the Monrovia Central Prison.
Certified court minutes from hearings held between October and November 2025 contain witness testimonies, objections from defense lawyers, and legal arguments presented during the proceedings. The records reviewed do not show any official finding or evidence of bribery connected to the case.
The investigation also established that Cllr. Bestman Juah, whose name reportedly surfaced in public discussions surrounding the matter, was not listed in court records as either prosecutor or defense counsel during proceedings at the police, magisterial, or circuit court levels.
Sources familiar with the matter said prosecutors earlier entered a nolle prosequi after legal objections were raised by defense counsel, including arguments that the initial charges had been filed before investigators completed a full inquiry into the allegations.
The Ministry of Justice later forwarded the matter to the police trafficking unit for additional investigation. Following that process, the case was refilled through a police charge sheet and transferred to Criminal Court ‘A.’
However, records from the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes ‘E,’ dated March 18, 2026, also show that defense lawyers filed a motion seeking to admit some defendants to bail. The motion was heard before Assigned Circuit Judge Her Honor Golda A. Bonah Elliott.
According to the court minutes, the motion involved defendants Wuozekarso Garteh, Maxson Wonlebah, and Jerome Genseh. Prosecutors from the Ministry of Justice and lawyers from the Liberty Law Firm appeared before the court to argue the application.
The court records further show that the defendants were absent from the dock during the hearing, while both prosecution and defense counsel announced readiness to proceed.
Defense lawyers cited Chapter 13, Subsection 13.5 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law and requested the court to take judicial notice of the writ of arrest filed in the case.
Sources close to the Trafficking in Persons Section of the Liberia National Police have strongly denied reports alleging that suspects linked to a recent human trafficking investigation were secretly released from custody.
According to the sources, the allegations circulated in public discussions are “false, misleading, and intended to damage the credibility” of those involved. The sources maintained that all defendants connected to the matter remain under the jurisdiction of the court and security authorities, and that due legal procedures are being followed.
The police sources further clarified that Cllr. Bestman Juah was never involved in the case in any capacity, contrary to allegations made in public commentary. They described attempts to connect Cllr. Juah to the matter as “completely unfounded.”
Authorities also emphasized that the Trafficking in Persons Section remains committed to combating human trafficking and related crimes across Liberia, adding that misinformation surrounding sensitive investigations can undermine public confidence and interfere with judicial proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Liberia National Police has urged the public and media institutions to verify information before publication and avoid spreading unconfirmed allegations that could prejudice ongoing investigations.
No final ruling contained in the records reviewed by this paper showed that the defendants were released from custody.
The matter remains before the court, and no trial has yet commenced.
Under Liberian law, all accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction.
