Thursday, June 5, 2008

No Evidence Against Jarkloh – G

No Evidence Against Jarkloh - Gov’t Lawyer Declares
By George J. Borteh


Bill Jarkloh, who has spent a little over two weeks behind bars for alleged rape could be released in a matter of days as lawyer representing the government of Liberia say there is no evidence to prosecute him.


• Mr. Bill Jarkloh
Bill was jailed for allegedly raping a seven years old girl, said to be leaving with him at the time of the reported incident.
Assistant Montserrado County Attorney, Atty. Witness Doyen told Criminal Court-B Judge that since defendant Jarkloh was accused, the Liberia National Police (LNP) has not been able to produce a charge sheet, to indicate that accused Jarkloh did commit such alleged act.
His declaration evolved when counsels for defendant Jarkloh filed a motion to release on bail.
“Prosecution says since the police cannot produce, or have no charge sheet for the defendant in keeping with the laws, as evidence to prosecute the defendant, prosecution poses no objection to the motion filed by the counsels for defendant Jarkloh,” Atty. Doyen told the court yesterday.
At the same, he sounded a bit contradictory, observers said; when he declared that the state was also waiting for relevant evidence to bring the defendant to court. This could mean, legal experts said, that it may ask the police to produce the necessary as required by law to prosecute Jarkloh.
Their client having spent about two weeks behind bar, counsels for defendant Jarkloh headed by Cllr. Dempster Brown filed a motion to admit him (Jarkloh) to a bail.
Submitting to the motion in keeping with law, prosecution lawyers led by Attorney Witness Doyen interposed no objection to the motion, meaning that the motion stands to be granted.
However, the Judge of Criminal Court B, who is in charge of the case reserved ruling until Friday, June 6, 2008, and called on both lawyers to be present in court and on time.
Few weeks ago, Journalist Bill Jarkloh and his fiancé were arrested by state security for allegedly rape and kidnap.
The fiancé was released days after on a criminal appearance bond, and with the filing in a motion to admit defendant Jarkloh to a bail, legal analysts say the defendant will likely to join his fiancé.