Former President George Manneh Weah has visited former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor at the Monrovia Central Prison, where she is being held on pretrial detention in connection with the government’s US$317 million cocaine investigation.
Taylor is facing several charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering. She has denied the allegations.
Weah returned to Liberia on Wednesday evening and was welcomed by scores of supporters. Shortly after his arrival, he criticized the charges against Taylor, calling them “bogus,” and said he would visit her in prison.
He kept that promise on Thursday afternoon, arriving at the Monrovia Central Prison, also known as South Beach, with senior members of the Coalition for Democratic Change.
Among those accompanying him were CDC Chairman Janga Kowo and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Bhofal Chambers.
Supporters gathered outside the prison as Weah entered the compound. Police maintained a heavy presence around the facility.
The visit was reportedly followed by a confrontation between Liberia National Police officers and members of Weah’s personal security team after the former president’s vehicle was allowed into the prison compound.
Weah had gone to see Taylor, who remains in custody while facing the drug-related charges.
The visit comes amid growing political tension over the government’s handling of the cocaine investigation and the prosecution of Taylor and other suspects.
Opposition figures and Taylor’s supporters have questioned the charges, while government authorities have maintained that the investigation and prosecution are being handled through the legal process.
