Report from Journalist Nyantee Togba
The 11th Judicial Circuit Court has handed down a 30-day prison sentence to a Bomi County official and two jurors for jury tampering in a statutory rape trial, in yet another case undermining the integrity of Liberia’s criminal justice system.
Resident Judge T. Ciapha Carey sentenced George Qulier, popularly known as “Gio Governor,” along with jurors Marcus Seh and Kunwon Tulay, to 30 days behind bars after a court investigation revealed that the jurors had engaged in improper communication with Qulier improperly influencing their “not guilty” verdict in favor of defendant George Bongar.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Carey ordered Qulier to pay a US$200 fine, while the two jurors forfeited their jury compensation for their role in the misconduct.
According to court records, the investigation established that the jury’s verdict had been compromised through external interference, a direct violation of judicial ethics and legal procedure. Acting swiftly to uphold the sanctity of the judicial process, Judge Carey set aside the tainted verdict, ordered the immediate re-arrest of defendant George Bongar, and granted a new trial, citing established Supreme Court precedent on jury misconduct.
The ruling sends a strong signal that the judiciary will not tolerate attempts to subvert the course of justice particularly in cases involving serious offenses such as statutory rape.
The case adds to growing concerns about jury tampering in Liberia, where recent high-profile incidents have raised questions about the vulnerability of the jury system to manipulation by influential individuals and local officials.