When upon the weight of the evidence it said it has regarding election irregularities the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) decided to court to establish justice, many thought that was the best way to go.

But no sooner had, by procedures, the National Elections Commission (NEC) begun hearings in into the complaints CDC brought before it than some individuals claiming to be partisans of the party begin taking a parallel but complementary course of action that, observers say, is at best inimical to the peace process and at worst illegal, considering government's prohibition on public demonstrations and unauthorized gatherings. Now the pursuit of the parallel approach is having its toll on public safety and the government is not taking the affront lying down. As The Analyst's Legal Stringer reports, it seems those allegedly caught by police breaching public order and safety regulations leading to injury and damage to property may get ten years in jail when convicted of charges police levied against them.

Thirty-eight suspects brought before the Monrovia City Magisterial Court at the Temple of Justice for prosecution yesterday for their alleged involvement in Sunday's rioting at the CDC Headquarters in Congo Town and parts adjacent may face ten years imprisonment if found guilty on terroristic threat charges brought down against them by the Liberian Government.

Revealing that terroristic threat is a bailable offense under the Liberian law, Monrovia City Court Magistrate, Cllr. Milton D. Taylor, said convicts could be held for as long as ten years.

When the thirty-eight alleged CDC riot suspects were brought to the Monrovia City Magisterial Court at the Temple of Justice yesterday under tight security escort provided by UNMIL Nepalese Police, they were formally charged with terroristic threat by the court based on oral and documentary evidences presented to the court by the Liberian Government linking them to the crime.

The prosecuting counsels of the Justice Ministry led by Montserrado County Attorney, Samuel Jacobs, alleged that the defendants, having connived and conspired with criminal intent to cause public disorder, violently took to the street of Monrovia and parts adjacent insulting and using profane languages and threatening remarks on December 11, and therefore resorted to attacking the police and damaging private properties.

The government lawyers averred in their complaints to the Monrovia City Magisterial Court that the illegal action of the defendants resulted to public inconvenience and embarrassment.

It was against this backdrop that the Monrovia City Court resolved to charge the 38 defendants with terroristic threat for their alleged involvement in such criminal act which the court said violates section 11.16 of the Act to Amend Chapter 11 of the New Penal Code of Liberia which stipulates among other things offenses against internal security.

The defendants including two females, Yassa Bestman, 21, and another lady simply referred to as Ethel, 43, were remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison by Monrovia City Court Magistrate, Cllr. Milton Taylor, because according to him, criminal cases, under the law are not heard in the afternoon as the time was about 2:15 pm.

Prior to remanding them to jail at the Monrovia Central Prison, government lawyers indicated on record through Assistant Montserrado County Attorney, Edwin Quitoley, that the state had a submission to make, while Cllr. Roger Martin of the Martin Law Firm in Monrovia noticed the court that he was representing the legal interest of five of the 38 defendants.

The senior defense counsel of Liberia, Cllr. Ignatius Weah, also noticed the court that he was representing the legal interest of ten of the 38 defendants.

Their representation as announced was subsequently noted by Magistrate Taylor and thereafter ordered the 38 defendants remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison until 10:00 am today when the case will be called for hearing.

It can be recalled that local and UNMIL police arrested several persons in Monrovia on last Sunday after certain individuals resorted to violence in and around the CDC Party Headquarters in Cong Town during programs for the arrival of CDC Standard Bearer, Ambassador George Weah, from South Africa.

During the incident, several persons including local policemen were injured while government vehicles and those owned by other citizens got damaged by the rioters.

Government security authorities said 50 suspects linked to the incident were picked up and charged with disorderly conduct and rioting but only 38 were turned over to the Monrovia City Magisterial Court at the Temple of Justice for prosecution yesterday.

At the same time, nine juveniles were turned over to the juvenile court yesterday for prosecuting on theft of property charges.

The juveniles, ages ranging from 14-16 years, were said to have stolen properties of residents in Paynesville.

They have been charged with theft of property pending trial.

It is not clear what impact the court trial of individuals who are prepared to jeopardize public safety for personal or partisan grievances will have on what is currently going on, but observers say it may likely lead to the moderation of temper and postures within the Liberia society.

	Copyright © 2005 The Analyst. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).