Exiled student activist Christopher Wleh Sivilli has voiced deep frustration over the prolonged delay in the prosecution of his case, amid mounting public calls for justice, transparency, and accountability within Liberia’s judicial system.
Speaking to Verity News over the weekend, Sivilli broke down in tears as he recalled vivid flashbacks of the horrific torture he endured on July 26, 2022, an experience that continues to haunt him.
“I still suffer from severe psychological trauma and physical complications. It’s been more than three years, yet justice remains out of reach,” he said.
Sivilli, the survivor of a brutal attempted murder, accuses both past and present Liberian administrations of deliberate inaction.
He says his case, listed on the court docket since 2022, has been ignored despite serious charges and a wealth of supporting evidence.
His case appears as No. 2 on the November Term 2023 docket of Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice.
Charges include Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Criminal Conspiracy against multiple individuals.
However, no meaningful progress has been made since it was initially filed on August 10, 2022.
“I am compelled to raise my voice and demand justice for the egregious human rights violations I suffered,” Sivilli told Verity News. Both past and current governments have failed me. It’s time for the justice system to act-not just in principle, but in practice,” he asserted.
Court records confirm that the Republic of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, filed charges against Ben Believe Togba, Abdurrahman Barry, Aaron K. Chea, Foday N. Massaquoi, Joshauh Saye Karr, Pokar S. Roberts, Kendrick C. Pelenah, and others yet to be identified.
The case alleges a coordinated attack that left Sivilli severely injured and traumatized.
Although he has physically recovered and continues to rebuild his life, Sivilli says the emotional wounds remain open, aggravated by the government’s refusal to pursue accountability.
He believes that authorities have not only failed to prosecute the accused but have intentionally neglected the case.
Sivilli also revealed that several witnesses have come forward and are prepared to testify.
“These individuals are willing to cooperate fully with the authorities to uncover the truth. But the silence from those in power continues to be deafening,” he said.
His appeal is both personal and political; a demand for systemic reform within a judicial system he says has failed the very people it was built to protect.
He is calling on the Ministry of Justice to reopen the case immediately and to launch a full, transparent investigation, including all witness testimonies.
The Temple of Justice, once a symbol of hope and rule of law, has-according to Sivilli, become a symbol of delay and dysfunction.
He argues that this inaction is more than mere bureaucratic oversight; it reflects a fundamental failure of the state to uphold its constitutional duties.
Legal analysts warn that such prolonged delays, particularly in serious criminal cases, undermine public confidence and reinforce a dangerous culture of impunity.
In Sivilli’s case, the lack of movement has only intensified his suffering and diminished his trust in the nation’s institutions.
“I’m not just speaking for myself,” Sivilli said. “I’m speaking for every Liberian who has been ignored, overlooked, or abandoned by a system that promised them protection and justice.”
Although the case technically remains on the docket, no trial date has been set, no hearings have resumed, and no procedural progress has been made.
According to Sivilli, the justice system has remained dormant on his case for over three years since the attack.
He is now appealing to civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the international community to intervene and urge the Liberian government to uphold its legal and constitutional obligations.
“Justice delayed,” he emphasized, “is not only justice denied-it is justice betrayed.”
For now, Christopher Wleh Sivilli continues his pursuit, not for revenge, but for justice, accountability, and the restoration of a system that truly serves the people it was designed to protect.
