Senate President Pro-Tempore Albert Chie demands proof of bribes offered to senators during the impeachment trial of former Associate Justice, Cllr. Kabineh Ja’neh.
He threw out the challenge thru a written communication to full plenary of the Liberian Senate, seeking an investigation for the allegation levied against him and the entire senate.
The communication dated March 30, which was read in the chambers of the senate on Thursday, April 4, states that the Judiciary Committee headed by Grand Cape Mount County Senator Cllr. Varney Sherman, should investigate Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson, on his accusation that the Liberian Senate received bribe to impeach former Justice Ja’neh.
Chie alleges that Senator Johnson in his remarks at the opposition Unity Party, Alternative National Congress and the Liberty Party coalition signing ceremony directly accused him (Chie) and the jury secretary of ballot tampering during the voting process of the impeachment trial.
The communication to plenary also quoted Pro- Tempore Chie as saying Senator Johnson reportedly disrespected the senate and its leadership by using invectives and profane languages in the senate’s chat room, in local media and through SMS messages he (Johnson) had directly sent to him (Chie) thereby, embarking on a smear campaign, bringing the august body to public disrepute and ridicule.
The Pro-Tempore also calls on the committee to investigate how sample verdict from the impeachment trial got in the public sphere after it was discussed in executive session.
According to the senate’s standing rules, any issue discussed in executive session shall not be made public until deems necessary by plenary.
Meanwhile, following the reading of the communication, Lofa County Senator George Tengbeh made a motion for the document to be forwarded to the Judiciary and Rules, Order and Administration Committee to advise plenary in a week.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor –Editing by Jonathan Browne
