President George Weah on Thursday, December 21, issued an executive pardon to 101 convicts including former National Defense Minister J Brownie Samukai Jr., former Deputy Defense Minister for Administration Joseph P. Johnson, and the former Comptroller Mr Nyumah Dorkor.
The former Government Officials were also relieved of their legal obligation to refund to the Liberian Government the money that they were convicted of misappropriating while serving in their respective capacities at the Ministry of National Defense.
The rest are individuals who were convicted of committing minor offenses by the courts of Liberia and were serving various prison terms, individuals with life-threatening ailments, old age, and individuals who served a substantial amount of the time for which they were sentenced and demonstrated good behaviour while serving their respective sentences.
The President’s move is part of the Presidential Tradition each year to pardon individuals convicted of various crimes by the courts of Liberia and detained at various prison facilities across the country.
The Presidential Pardon is backed by the 1986 Liberian Constitution under Article 59 which states inter-alia that _the President may remit any public forfeitures and penalties, suspend any fines and sentences, grant reprieves and pardons, and restore civil rights after conviction for all public offenses, except impeachment.
The President has mandated the Attorney General Cllr. Frank Musah Dean Jr., Minister of Justice to ensure the unhindered implementation of the Presidential Pardon, in keeping with judicial procedures.
