Lawyers representing embattled Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh say evidences being brought against their client are incomplete.
The lawyers say they are not in possession of all the discoveries that should be filed against Justice Ja’neh by prosecutors representing, the House of Representatives to prepare their client’s defense.
This revelation comes as the case finally took off on Wednesday following weeks of delays cause by recusal and dismissal motions, with Montserrado County Rep. Acarous Gray testifying as the first witness against Justice Ja’neh.
During his testimony, Justice Ja’neh’s lawyers raised an objection that lawyers for the House were introducing evidence that the defense team did not have in their possession.
Justice Ja’neh is standing impeachment trial at the Liberian Senate for alleged proved misconduct, abuse of public office, wanton abuse of judicial discretion, frauds, misuse of power and corruption.
One of the cases which triggered his impeachment trial relates to a land dispute involving the embattled justice and a private citizen, one Madam Annie Yancy Constance.
Associate Justice Ja’neh has been accused by lawmakers for abuse of power, using his influence as Associate Justice to secure a ruling in his favor at the Supreme Court to take possession of the land.
Informing Chief Justice Francis Korkpor on Wednesday, 6 March, Justice Ja’neh’s lawyer Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson says the defense team did not have the rules of the House of Representatives that should have been part of the discoveries.
In response, Cllr. Syrenius Cephus argues that all the documents were sent, including the rules of the House of Representatives that led to the impeachment of Associate Justice Ja’neh.
Decision in the arguments from the both sides has been tabled for the next hearing day.
Taking the witness stand, Montserrado County District #8 Rep. and a key engineer to Justice Ja’neh’s impeachment Moses Acarous Gray testifies that a lady in his District called Annie Y. Constance carried a complaint to him, accusing Associate Justice Ja’neh of illegally taking her land.
According to Rep. Gray, he took the issue to plenary and a committee was set up to investigate the matter.
He testifies that amendments and recommendations were made that brought about the impeachment against Justice Ja’neh.Rep. Gray narrates that Madam Constance’s husband is a former general in the Liberian Army and also a former legislator.
The witness testifies further that Madam Constance’s Husband went missing for some years and in 1996 Associate Justice Ja’neh allegedly took their property illegally at the time when Liberians were running helter-skelter.
Additionally, Rep. Gray accuses Justice Ja’neh of using his office power to stop the Government from having access to the road funds that was saved at the rate of 50 cent from every petroleum brought into the country.
By Ethel A. Tweh –Edited by Winston W. Parley
