JFK indictee hunts for lawyer?

One of the 15 indictees in the John F. Kennedy Medical Center’s economic sabotage trial Fahn F. Borbor seems to be in a hunt for lawyer, as he failed to appear in court with a counsel at Thursday’s hearing which was specifically set as a deadline by presiding Criminal Court “C” Judge Emery S. Paye to produce a counsel of his choice.

Roughly two days after the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia gave the order for defendant Borbor to produce his counsel or have the court request for lawyer to represent him, a Sheriff report on Thursday, 9 June indicates that he was absent at the call of the case.

“Your Honor, Sheriff begs that the Case is called and Defendants Patrick Konuwah, Rebeah Arnus are present. Konuwah’s Lawyer is absent and Rebeah Arnus’ Lawyer is present and co-defendant Fahn F. Borbor is absent,” the court officer reported on Thursday.

The defendants are just few of more than 15 persons indicted by prosecution for allegedly diverting over L$16m and over US$126,000 insurance companies’ payments intendent for the John F. Kennedy Medical Center or JFKMC into two bogus accounts for their personal uses.

After four defendants were granted plea bargaining, presiding Criminal Court “C” Judge Emery S. Paye tabled jury selection on 7 June and gave defendant Borbor up to Thursday, 9 June to bring to court counsel of his choice, as failure on his part the court would request Public Defenders to represent him. Judge Paye said, “It was understood that the case would have continued today,” [Thursday 9 June], although the record did not carry such.”

During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Paye said one of the counsels in person of Cllr. Thompson Jargbah raised the issue that although defendant Borbor was asked to produce his lawyer, but the court did not assign the case for trial to continue on Thursday.

“This being a technical and legal issue, this Court will concede such a contention. Hence, the trial is suspended to resume on Monday, the 13th Day of June, 2016 at the precise hour of 9:00 A.M.,” Judge Paye announced.

By Winston W. Parley-Editing by Jonathan Browne