The NEWS (Monrovia)
C. Emmanuel Johnson
15 August 2008
Monrovia — The Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia has dismissed the US$4.5 million libel suit recently filed against former President Moses Z. Blah by former Maritime Commissioner Benoni Urey.
Mr. Urey had filed a US$4.5 million damage suit against Mr. Blah following his testimony at the Special War Crimes Court sitting in The Hague.
Mr. Urey sued Blah for accusing him of dishing out over US$3 million of the country's maritime fund to former President Charles Taylor.
Judge Yusuf Kaba dismissed the case on grounds that it did not have merit.
The Court said the libel suit against the former president could not be granted because defendant Blah should not have been taken to court for his testimony in The Hague.
Judge Kaba said Mr. Blah served as prosecution witness and he enjoyed the privileges of the Special Court.
"Blah was a subpoena witness and, like in all other cases, a witness appearing before a common court would be required to answer all questions to the best of his knowledge, "the court ruled.
"Since the testimony provided by the wittiness was not in anyway objected to by the court, defendant Blah can not be held liable for such testimony," Judge Kaba ruled.
The ruling further states "there is principle of law that if the testimony is pertinent to the issue and relevant to the question posed by prosecution, though it may be defamatory, yet it is not answerable to."
The court said if the plaintiff is injured by the defendant's testimony, he should have appeared before the Special Court to exonerate himself by testifying.
Prosecution took exception to the ruling and announced an appeal at the Supreme Court sitting in its October A.D. 2008 Term.
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