Monrovia, Liberia – Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered the release of the first batch of 45 pretrial detainees from the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach), citing serious violations of Liberia’s statutory and constitutional provisions guaranteeing speedy trial.
The released detainees are part of a larger group of 219 inmates expected to be discharged “without prejudice to the state,” meaning prosecutors retain the right to refile charges should the government later decide to proceed with prosecution.
Among those released are Alieu Kamara, Abraham Maryland, Mark David, Jerome Brown, Blessings Sherman, Louis Demen, Emmanuel Momo, Mark Moore Demand, Alfred Tucker, and Emmanuel Tarpeh, along with several others.
The detainees had been held on various charges including murder, trafficking, robbery, theft of property, manslaughter, criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, and other serious offenses.
In his ruling, Judge Willie relied on Sections 18.1 and 18.2 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, which address the dismissal of criminal complaints and indictments due to prosecutorial delays.
Under Section 18.1, prosecuting attorneys, including lawyers representing the Ministry of Justice, may request the dismissal of criminal charges with approval from the court. Meanwhile, Section 18.2 mandates the dismissal of complaints or indictments when the government fails to indict or bring defendants to trial within the next succeeding term of court unless good cause is established.
Judge Willie noted that several of the detainees had remained incarcerated for between eight and nineteen court terms — the equivalent of approximately two to four years — without indictment or trial.
The court described the prolonged detention as a direct violation of both constitutional safeguards and international human rights standards guaranteeing fair and speedy trial.
During the proceedings, prison authorities informed the court that overcrowding at the Monrovia Central Prison has reached alarming levels, with inmates reportedly “sleeping on each other” due to limited space and worsening conditions.
Judge Willie said the severe congestion at South Beach Prison further underscored the need for strict enforcement of statutory detention limits.
The ruling followed a motion filed by defense lawyer Cllr. Sennay Carlor II, who argued that the government had failed and neglected to prosecute the detainees within the timeframe required by law.
Legal observers say the latest release places renewed pressure on the Government of Liberia to fast-track completion of the Cheesemanburg Prison Facility as part of broader efforts to reduce overcrowding and improve compliance with criminal procedure laws.
This is not the first time Judge Willie has ordered the release of detainees for prolonged pretrial detention.
In April 2025, the Criminal Court “A” Judge released more than 100 detainees after defense lawyers, including Cllr. Sennay Carlor II and Cllr. Aloysius Toe, filed similar motions challenging excessive prosecutorial delays.
Judge Willie also previously freed 17 inmates, some of whom had allegedly spent between six and nine years in detention without indictment, after finding violations of Article 21(f) and 21(h) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia and Section 18.2 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
On several occasions, Judge Willie emphasized that the detainees were not being released because they had been proven innocent, but because the state failed to prosecute them within the time required by law.
Prior to the release of the latest batch of detainees, the Judge instructed the Clerk of Court to document the personal details of all discharged inmates, including their residential addresses and contact information.
