Defiance?

-Commercial Court Holds Minister Tweah In Contempt

The Commercial Court at the Temple of Justice has held Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) Minister Samuel Tweah in contempt for failure to comply with the Court’s order pursuant to a stipulation agreement dated December 6, 2018.

It can be recalled that two hundred-five (205) employees of the National Elections Commission (NEC) were illegally redundant as employees of the INEC; something that was later challenged by the former workers thus claiming fourteen months outstanding salaries amounting to US$651,000.00.

This also led the group to file an action of debt with the Commercial Court against the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (1st respondent) and the National Elections Commission as (2^nd respondent) in the matter.

When the matter was taken to the Commercial Court, the Court ruled in favor of the former employees and the Government of Liberia through MFDP concord with the ruling, promising to make initial payment of twenty-five percent on December 7, 2018, but the government has since defaulted and had not pay up to date.

Because on this, the Commercial Court mandated its sheriff to issue a writ of contempt against Minister Tweah demanding his appearance before that honorable court on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 to show reason why that court should not hold him in contempt after disrespecting its order defaulting the agreement to pay the amount owed those former NEC workers.

“You are hereby commanded to summon Hon. Samuel Tweah, Minister, Ministry of Finance and You are further commanded to notify the said defendants to file their answer on or before Wednesday, May 1, 2019 and that upon their failure to appear before this court in keeping with this writ of summons for contempt; they shall be attached in contempt proceedings,” the court order.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2019, the Liberian Government through MFDP was allegedly fined and charged for contempt after the date they were due to show up elapsed, and charged to US$50.00 to be paid within 24 hours.

On January 9, 2019, Deputy Finance Minister Samora Wolokollie attended a conference at the Commercial Court to make payment since then the government has defaulted.

This is not the first time that the MFDP has disregarded the contempt charged by the honorable court as the matter of fact this is allegedly the third in a series that the ministry through Minister Samuel Tweah has shown such disrespect to the court. TNR