Sworn testimony presented in the ongoing human trafficking trial before Criminal Court ‘A’ has not supported earlier media reports alleging that prominent lawyer Cllr. Bestman Juah was involved in a scheme to bribe officials handling the case.
A review of certified court records by this newspaper found that none of the victims who testified identified Juah or accused him of attempting to influence the prosecution.
The testimony differs from earlier reports published by FrontPage Africa and New Narratives, which cited investigative sources claiming victims had alleged that money was offered to weaken the case and that Juah played a role in the alleged effort.
Court records further show that Juah is not listed as counsel for either the prosecution or the defense in the proceedings before Criminal Court ‘A.’ The records reviewed by this newspaper contain no indication that he represented any of the defendants at any stage of the case.
Throughout the trial, witnesses who testified under oath made no reference to any alleged bribery involving Juah. They also did not testify about alleged payments to prosecutors or officers of the Liberia National Police, claims that had featured prominently in earlier media reports.
The difference between the allegations reported before trial and the evidence presented in court has drawn attention from legal observers, who note that investigative claims are separate from testimony admitted under oath. Under Liberia’s legal system, the court’s determination must be based on evidence properly presented during the trial.
Documents reviewed from the Paynesville Magisterial Court, Criminal Court ‘A,’ Criminal Court ‘E,’ and the Liberia National Police’s Trafficking in Persons Section identify other lawyers as counsel for the accused. Preliminary hearing records show that Atty. Prince S. Conway represented the defendants during proceedings in October and November 2025. A bail motion filed on March 18, 2026, lists Cllr. Mamee S. W. Gongba Jr., Cllr. David M. Kolleh Jr., and Cllr. Pelvis Dolopei of Liberty Law Firm as counsel for several defendants. None of the filings mentions Juah.
A court staff who preferred to remain anonymous said Cllr. Juah never entered an appearance in the matter.
“The record speaks for itself. At no point has Cllr. Bestman Juah appeared as counsel for either the defense or the prosecution in this case,” the official said.
The case stems from complaints filed by residents of Nimba County who alleged they were promised visas and employment opportunities in Canada after paying more than US$100,000 to the accused. Prosecutors say the complainants were instead taken to a private compound in Paynesville, where they were allegedly forced into an online marketing operation and denied refunds after demanding the return of their money.
The defendants, including Daniel David, Preston Y. Logan, Boimah Saweah, Johnny Dahn, Shirley Suah, Bill Dorkor, Jerome Genseh and others, face charges including trafficking in persons, theft of property, rape, misapplication of entrusted property and criminal facilitation.
They remain in custody while the case continues before Criminal Court ‘A,’ with related rape allegations being heard separately by Criminal Court ‘E.’
Cllr. Juah, who serves as President of the Public Defenders Association of Liberia, has consistently denied any involvement in the allegations. Police officer Dunbar, who works with the Liberia National Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Section, has also rejected claims of bribery.
Final arguments in the human trafficking case are scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2026. The outcome is expected to bring one of Liberia’s most closely watched criminal trials a step closer to judgment.
As the trial nears its conclusion, the certified court record shows that the witnesses who testified under oath did not make allegations linking Juah to any bribery scheme, leaving the court to decide the case on the evidence formally presented during the proceedings.
