MONROVIA, June 12 (LINA) – Monrovia City Court has restored the freedom of 14 students of the University of Liberia, and six individuals that were charged along with them owing to a riot.
They were detained at the Monrovia Central Prison for eight days in connection with the Wednesday, June 5, incident on Capital By-Pass and at District #10 lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah’s residence when he was invited by Police surrounding the alleged flogging of one Emmanuel Freeman.
Release of the students and others comes as a result of Criminal Court ‘A’ Presiding Judge Roosevelt Willie’s June 12 mandate ordering Magistrate Kennedy Peabody to resume jurisdiction over the legal proceeding.
Montserrado County Attorney Edwin Martin had taken the case to Criminal Court “A” on grounds that the Magisterial Court had no jurisdiction over the matter.
But Judge Willie ruled to the contrary, sending the case back to Magistrate Peabody.
Peabody’s release order did not say whether the UL students and the six others submitted a valid criminal appearance bond before court.
Although the students and others had their freedom restored, government lawyers said they were not in possession of any valid criminal appearance bond and as such those released risk been re-arrested consistent with law.
They were arrested by police on June 5, and charged with multiple offenses, ranging from rioting, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highway and public passages.
