By: R. Joyclyn Wea
MONROVIA-At long last, Alexander Cummings has finally caved in and surrendered the original copy of the collaborating political parties framework document of May 19, 2020, after nearly months of efforts to prevent him from doing so.
Cummings, through two of his lawyers, on Monday, February 14, 2022, presented the document in question to Magistrate Jorma Jallah of the Monrovia City Court but was rejected by the judge due to in proper filing.
Magistrate Jallah says, he cannot grant the same document in the absence of reading the judgment of the Circuit Court, as doing so would amount to acting outside the law.
On February 9, 2022, the Circuit Court upheld the Magisterial Court’s judgment thereby ordering Cummings and his co-defendants in the forgery case to produce the original CPP framework document in his position.
Cummings through his team of lawyers excepted to the Circuit Court’s decision on grounds that it would amount to self-incrimination as such they announced an appeal to the Supreme Court to undo the decision from both the Magisterial and Circuit Courts.
But, surprisingly on Monday, February 14, 2022, two of Cummings’ lawyers were spotted in the Monrovia City Court begging Magistrate Jallah to accept the document in question, but said plead did not materialize.
Magistrate Jallah indicated that accepting the document in the absence of reading the judgment from the Circuit Court (Criminal Court “A”) would not only be acting outside the law but also disrespectful and unethical on his part.
He advised that the lawyers prey for assignment of the reading of the Circuit Court judgment at which time they can use the time to file the document.
The Magistrate noted that had they surrendered the document in question long before now, by then, they would have not reached the level at which they are now.
It can be recalled that Alexander Cummings, Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) has come under legal pressure, as Criminal Court “A” mandated him to produce the original copy of the CPP’s framework document.
Alexander Cummings, Musa Hassan Bility, and others have been given 72 hours ultimatum to produce the original copy of the CPP Framework Document of May 19, 2020.
Affirming Magistrate Jomah Jallah’s January 26, 2022 ruling, Judge Roosevelt Willie said, serving in the capacity as chairman of the CPP on May 19, 2020, Cummings had no privacy on the decision and documents in his possession.
On January 28, 2022, lawyers representing the ANC political leader headed by Cllr. Abraham Sillah petitioned Criminal Court “A” to review and reverse the January 26, 2022 judgment of Magistrate Jomah Jallah in which he ordered the defendants to produce the original framework document of the CPP, something Cummings’ lawyers considered as self-incriminating.
But rendering judgment into the matter Thursday, Judge Willie reaffirmed the Magisterial Court’s judgment and declared that the argument of self-incrimination which would mean producing evidence against oneself does not apply in said case.
The decision was reached at Criminal Court ‘A’ when Judge Roosevelt Willie reaffirmed Magistrate Jomah Jallah January 26, 2022 ruling mandated the three named defendants to produce evidence against themselves within 72 hours.
He ordered the clerk of court to write the Magistrate to resume jurisdiction of the case accordingly.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing Alexander Cummings and the others announced that they will take an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia for final deliberation into the matter. They have vowed to take the Judge on Certiorari with the Justice in Chambers
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