The presiding Judge of Criminal Court ‘C’ has ordered the release of 12 jurors who were being held at the Monrovia Central Prison over allegations of jury misconduct in the high-profile trial involving former Finance Minister Samuel Tweh and his co-defendants.
The jurors were part of a 15-member panel that was detained after allegations surfaced that the jury process had been compromised during the trial.
The court had earlier ordered their detention before turning the matter over to the Ministry of Justice for further investigation.
Three members of the panel were released earlier after the court identified them as whistleblowers who provided information about the alleged misconduct. Their testimony left the remaining 12 jurors in custody until the court’s latest ruling.
The jurors involved are Saah Jonathan Bundoo, George K. Dennis, Maximum T. Dillon, Harriet J. Togba, Joeviria Pinky Bai, Arnold Vincent, Mamu Anderson, Siah J. Tandapolie, Albertine D. Bai, Lucy T. Menyongar, Sando Mulbah, Patricia Newehord, Jamesetta K.W. Higgins, Catherine Quawah and Cynthia Tarplah.
Court records show that juror Catherine Quawah admitted arranging for a mobile phone to be smuggled into the courthouse and secretly taken into the jury room. She also alleged that some jurors used mobile phones to communicate with people outside the jury while the trial was in progress.
Although the 12 jurors have now been released from prison, the matter is far from over.
The Court, during its ruling directed the Ministry of Justice to proceed with a criminal investigation into the allegations.
According to the court’s order, the Justice Ministry will begin its investigation on Friday to determine whether any criminal offenses were committed and whether charges should be brought against those involved.
