Verity thorough investigation including Certified court documents and police records have cleared Cllr. Bestman Juah, President of the Public Defenders Association of Liberia, of any involvement in the ongoing human trafficking and fraud case before Criminal Court ‘A’ at the Temple of Justice.
The clarification comes after widespread public discussion and social media posts suggesting that Juah and other justice sector actors had attempted to influence the release of some of the accused persons ahead of trial. Some of the claims were also linked to commentaries and reports attributed to FrontPage Africa and New Narratives.
However, an examination of official records from the Paynesville Magisterial Court, the Liberia National Police’s Trafficking in Persons Unit, and Criminal Court ‘A’ shows no evidence connecting Cllr. Juah to the case in any capacity-whether as defense counsel, adviser, or participant in the proceedings.
Court filings from preliminary hearings held between October and November 2025 at the Paynesville Magisterial Court list Atty. Prince S. Conway as one of the lawyers who initially represented the defendants.
Additional documents from a bail hearing on March 18, 2026, identify Cllr. Mamee S. W. Gongba Jr., Cllr. David M. Kolleh Jr., and Cllr. Pelvis Dolopei of the Liberty Law Firm as the legal representatives for the accused.
None of the reviewed records mention or assign any official role to Cllr. Juah in the matter.
Judicial officials also confirmed that all defendants remain under the authority of Criminal Court “A” and have not been released outside of court processes, dismissing rumors of any improper release.
A senior investigator from the Liberia National Police’s Trafficking in Persons Unit who spoke on condition of anonymity also described the allegations as unfounded, saying they are not supported by investigative findings.
“Cllr. Juah has no basis in the case file and the information circulating in the public that he is part to the case are misleading.”
The Ministry of Justice has likewise stressed that the case will proceed strictly under due process and in accordance with Liberian law.
Authorities urged the public to rely on verified court documents when discussing ongoing proceedings, warning that misinformation can interfere with justice.
The case originated from complaints filed in 2025 by residents of Nimba County, who alleged they were deceived with promises of overseas travel opportunities.
According to prosecutors, the victims paid more than US$100,000 to the accused, who allegedly promised to arrange travel to Canada. Instead, court documents claim the victims were taken to Montserrado County, held in a private residence in Paynesville, and later forced into an online marketing scheme.
The defendants face multiple charges, including human trafficking, theft of property, rape, criminal facilitation, and misapplication of entrusted funds.
They were arrested in September 2025 and remain at the Monrovia Central Prison as the case continues.
A bail application filed on behalf of some of the accused was heard on March 18, 2026, at Criminal Court “A” but is still pending a ruling.
Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has scheduled the next hearing for Monday, June 8, 2026. The session is expected to address pending motions and clarify issues related to legal representation.
Meanwhile, police continue to urge media outlets and the public to depend on verified court records in reporting ongoing cases, cautioning that inaccurate information can undermine justice.
Under Article 21(h) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
