George Borteh
17 August 2007
Magistrate Milton Taylor of the Monrovia City Court yesterday ruled in favor of the US$1.8M criminal appearance bond filed by lawyers representing the interest of defendant Edwin Snowe in a cause for alleged theft of funds while he serving as Manager Director at Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation (LPRC).
The ruling denied exceptions filed by the state on grounds that the bond was not valid. In conformity with the statute, the government through the Justice Ministry and the office of the County Attorney of Montserrado County filed a 12-count bail of exception on April 16, 2007 against the defendant.
The state contended that the bond filed by the defendant was insufficient and inadequate to secure his release and guarantee his appearance on a day to day basis.
The state maintained that the African Insurance Company of Liberia (AICOL), from which the defendant got his bond, does not have the legal capacity to issue such amount for him.
The state, which was represented by Atty. Samuel Jacobs of the Ministry of Justice along with other legal-minded Liberians during their argument on August 3, 2007, argued that the defendant needed to double the amount of the bond filed based on the amount of the alleged tune of theft of property.
But in his ruling in the presence of the ex-Speaker, Magistrate Taylor said that in the eyes of the court, the Bond is sufficient and valid to all intents and purposes for the defendant.
He said the prosecution's exceptions to said bond were denied adding that the motion to justify Surety by defendant Mr. Snowe is hereby sustained.
The judge noted: Said insurance company has the capacity to grant bond and in the eye of the Court is quite sufficient and valid to all intents and purposes."
"Prosecution exception to such bond is denied and the Motion to justify surety by the defendant is hereby sustained, and it is hereby so ordered," Magistrate Taylor also said.
Mr. Snowe and some other ex-officials of the erstwhile National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) are in court for allegedly stealing from national coffers while in power.
He has been charged with "Theft of Property" for allegedly misappropriating over US$1M from the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) during his stewardship as Managing Director.
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