The Justice System is chronically wrong.

Ex-Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, whose conviction has been dismissed by the Supreme Court, says injustice, unethical standards, and manipulations mar the Justice System here.

By: Emmanuel wise Jipoh

Monrovia, Liberia, September 2, 2024—Former Liberian Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott condemns the Justice System of Liberia, citing injustice, unethical standards, and manipulations. She vows to fight against injustice and restore the country’s damaged reputation.

In her first public interview since her release from the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) for last week’s false accusations of murder and criminal conspiracy, alongside three other family members, Cllr. Scott categorizes the justice system in the country as “chronically wrong.”

“Our justice system is chronically wrong, and there’s a problem, and that is injustice, where the Police doesn’t have a code of conduct, violate people’s constitutional and social rights, and there’s no accountability”, she laments.

Cllr. Scott, alongside three of her family members, was last week freed from custody after serving one year and three months behind bars in relation to the brutal murder of her 29-year-old niece Charlotte Musu in February 2023.

Speaking at the Networking Dinner for Elected and Appointed Women Leaders, organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the Women Legislative Caucus, she expressed concern about individuals imprisoned without justice and emphasized the importance of remembering all incarcerated people, including those convicted of serious crimes.

She calls for focus to be placed on rehabilitation and falsely incarcerated people so that they can be reintegrated as productive members of society.

Cllr. Scott calls on women leaders to be steadfast in their roles, underscoring that leadership is about service, selflessness, honesty, and integrity. She also wants women to be passionate about their work because much more must be done.

The Supreme Court of Liberia last week acquitted the former Chief Justice of the murder of her niece. In her ruling, incumbent Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh noted that there was not sufficient evidence to link Cllr: Scott and her relatives to the crime.

According to the Supreme Court, the state did not meet the burden of proof to warrant the conviction of the defendants. Therefore, therefore, they were acquitted of the crimes of murder, criminal conspiracy as charged in the indictment.

During legal arguments in the Gloria Scott murder case on July 16, 2024, state prosecutors told the Supreme Court that they Convicted Justice Scott on Circumstantial Evidence. 

Legal analysts note that the line of questioning by justices of the Supreme Court indicated that the life imprisonment imposed against former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three of her family members would be reversed. Editing by Jonathan Browne