Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-02-20 00:29:43
Monrovia City Court Magistrate L. Ben Barcon has made an order for the Liberian social media talk show host Nayaborqua Oldpa Yeazeahn, also known as Prophet Key, to file a valid criminal appearance bond or face detention. The order was issued on Monday, 19 February 2024, by Magistrate Barcon after a heated argument between the defense and prosecution in a case involving Mr. Yeazeahn and Liberian Cultural Ambassador Julie Endee.
The court has given Mr. Yeazeahn one day to file the bond, and if he fails to do so, he will be detained either at the Monrovia Central Prison or South Beach. Magistrate Barcon emphasized the court’s discretion in granting a bond and warned that this leniency cannot continue indefinitely.
Madam Endee is demanding US$5 million in damages for slander and libel, alleging that Mr. Yeazeahn defamed and humiliated her through his social media talk shows. The court has set a deadline of 1:00 PM for Mr. Yeazeahn to submit a bond, failing which he will be arrested at any location and detained at the Monrovia Central Prison until the bond is filed.
Failure to file a valid criminal appearance bond may result in the approval of a request from the state for a ne exeat republica, restraining Mr. Yeazeahn from leaving the country. On the same day, Mr. Yeazeahn appeared before Magistrate Barcon to answer a writ of arrest for the crimes of criminal coercion, menacing, and disorderly conduct, based on Madam Endee’s complaint.
During the court proceedings, the defense invoked Chapter 12 Section 12.1 of the Civil Procedure Law of Liberia, requesting a pre-trial conference to resolve the matter amicably. The prosecution opposed this, arguing that the defendant had not submitted a bond, and the request for a pre-trial conference was an attempt to delay the proceedings.
The prosecution also highlighted the provision of a pre-trial conference in Section 12.1 of the Civil Procedure Law of Liberia, emphasizing the need for the parties to reach an agreement. Despite the grant of a pre-trial conference, the anticipated resolution was not achieved. The court then ordered the defendant to plead to the crimes brought against him, and Mr. Yeazeahn pleaded not guilty.
The court subsequently instructed the clerk to proceed with the qualification of the prosecution’s first witness, Madam Julie Endee, to testify for the state. As the proceedings continued, the prosecution requested a continuance to prepare.
Overall, the court has given Mr. Yeazeahn a deadline to file a valid criminal appearance bond and has warned of potential detainment if this requirement is not met. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and further developments are expected in this case.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
