A Liberian judge has given the police one last chance to appear in court and explain why they are holding a cybercrime suspect, Jerry Nyantee Wrato, beyond the 48 hours allowed by the Constitution. The suspect's lawyers claim he was arrested illegally and have been held for over 120 hours. Judge Pape Suah of Criminal Court "B" at the Temple of Justice postponed a habeas corpus hearing on Thursday, September 24, 2026, and moved the matter to Friday, September 25, at 11 a.m.
Wrato faces several cybercrime charges, including misuse of device, cyberstalking, distributing data messages that incite damage to property or violence, and distributing intimate images without consent. During Thursday's proceedings, no police officer appeared in court for the second straight hearing. The judge warned that if the police fail to appear again, the court "will make an informed decision and will use the appropriate legal authority."
The prosecution, represented by Cllr. Isaac B. Williams, Sr. and Cllr. Irene N. D. Saie, asked for the postponement, citing the absence of key police officials, including the Inspector General of Police and the arresting officer. They claimed these officials were out of Monrovia and out of the country. However, Wrato's lawyer, Cllr. Garrison D. Yealue, rejected this excuse, calling it "made in bad faith" and "a complete disrespect" to the court.
Yealue argued that the police had "illegally arrested the Petitioner and illegally kept him for more than 120 hours." He also questioned why the police could not produce any of the over 60 deputies and assistant directors remaining in the country to appear in court. The defence counsel asked Judge Suah to reject the prosecution's request and issue contempt proceedings against the Inspector General and his senior officers.
Judge Suah expressed concerns over the government's paperwork, stating that the Ministry of Justice had not provided "sufficient and convincing evidence" that the case was sent to court in keeping with the law. He noted that the documents presented did not show who made the return, when it was made, or when the case was received. The judge described the police's refusal to come to court as "a disrespect" and vowed to use all relevant legal authority to ensure the arresting officer appears.
Despite the prosecution's request for a continuance, Judge Suah granted it as the respondents' "last opportunity." He ordered the Clerk of Court to serve notices of assignment on the Ministry of Justice, Attorney General, Solicitor General, Montserrado County Attorney's office, and the Office of the Inspector General of Police. The defence took exception to the ruling, and the matter was suspended until Friday.
The case has significant implications for the rule of law in Liberia, particularly regarding the detention of suspects and adherence to constitutional provisions. The outcome will be closely watched by human rights groups and the general public. Key points in the case include:
Key points
- The police have been given a last chance to appear in court and explain their detention of Wrato.
- Wrato's lawyers claim he was arrested illegally and held beyond the 48 hours allowed by the Constitution.
- The judge has warned that failure to appear will result in an "informed decision" using "appropriate legal authority".
