Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor was ordered remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison on Monday after the Monrovia City Court denied a request by her lawyers for compassionate detention at a medical facility.
Taylor’s defense team had asked the court to grant her a preliminary examination and allow her to remain at a health facility for continued medical treatment, arguing that her condition was life-threatening.
The defense told the court that, based on Taylor’s medical report, her health could deteriorate if she was not granted compassionate detention.
“The defense begs to inform this court that the former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor’s health condition is life-threatening; that if she is not granted compassionate detention, she may lose her precious life,” one of Taylor’s lawyers argued.
The defense cited provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, including Chapters 34 and 13, Article 20(a) of the 1986 Constitution, and Sections 25.1 and 25.2 of Liberia’s Civil Procedure Law in support of its request.
In response, the prosecution raised no objection to Taylor’s request for a preliminary examination, noting that it is a right guaranteed to a defendant under Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law.
However, state lawyers strongly opposed the request for compassionate detention. The prosecution pointed to portions of Taylor’s medical report, which it said showed that her vital signs and blood sugar levels were stable.
“The state requests that the court grant the request in part and deny it in part,” the prosecution argued. “The request for a preliminary examination should be granted because it is the right of the defendant under Chapter 12 of the Criminal Procedure Law. The request for compassionate detention should be denied.”
The prosecution further argued that some of the charges against Taylor are capital and non-bailable offenses.
A jurisdictional issue also arose during the hearing. The prosecution argued that the Monrovia City Court did not have the authority to hear and grant a request for compassionate detention. The defense disagreed, maintaining that the matter was properly before the court because the Monrovia City Court is the court of first instance.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court recessed for 15 minutes before returning with its decision.
The court granted Taylor’s request for a preliminary examination but denied her request for compassionate detention.
In its ruling, the court held that the authority to grant compassionate leave rests with the Executive Branch and not the Judiciary.
Taylor was subsequently ordered remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison.
Her lawyers excepted to the ruling and announced an appeal.
