Anthony Stephens

Liberia’s Army Formally Apologizes for War-Era Crimes as Lutheran Church Massacre Survivors Demand Legislators Pass Bill to Establish War Crimes Court

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: SINKOR, Monrovia -Victims and survivors of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church massacre, one of the bloodiest atrocities of Liberia’s 14-year civil conflict, had expected that by the time of their 36th commemoration, the court to try those accused of war crimes would be preparing to get…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Victims, Advocates Urge Chief Justice to Rescind Promotion of Lawyer Accused of Paying Bribes to Protect Traffickers Convicted in Country’s Largest Human Trafficking Case

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary:           Victims of Liberia’s largest human trafficking case and anti-human trafficking advocates say they were “shocked and disappointed” by Supreme Court Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr. appointment of a lawyer whom numerous victims have accused of “being on the payroll” to protect human traffickers in the country….

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Court Hands Down Longest-Ever 50-Year Prison Terms in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Case, Awards US$120,000 in Restitution to Victims

“The defendants deceived their victims, recruited them, harbored them, exploited them, sexually abused them and took money from them as registration fees,” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie said during his more than two-hour reading of a 36-page judgment. “These are all critical elements of trafficking in persons. And it is the considered judgment of this court…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Court Hands Down Longest-Ever 50-Year Prison Terms in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Case, Awards US$120,000 in Restitution to Victims

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: A Liberian court awarded US$120,000 in restitution to victims and imposed the country’s longest-ever human trafficking sentences, sentencing eight defendants to 50 years and three others to 20 in Liberia’s largest trafficking case. The court ordered banks and telecommunications companies to identify and freeze assets belonging…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants

A 12-member jury in Monrovia has unanimously convicted eight defendants in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, finding them guilty of trafficking 57 victims after just 23 minutes of deliberation. The case, which involved harrowing testimony of beatings, torture, rape, and financial exploitation, was seen as a landmark test of Liberia’s justice system amid allegations of…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants: Outcome seen as measure of justice system under international scrutiny for bribery allegations

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: Jurors hearing Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial on Monday unanimously found the remaining defendants guilty, bringing to a close a nearly month-long trial marked by emotional testimony from victims and fierce legal battles between prosecutors and defense lawyers. The 12-member jury returned its verdict after just…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Breaking News: Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants

Outcome seen as measure of justice system under international scrutiny for bribery allegations By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants A jury convicted all eight defendants on all charges Monday in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, delivering a unanimous verdict after roughly 20…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

State Closes Case After Subpoenaed Witnesses Say Company Linked to Accused Traffickers Is Not Tax Compliant; Final Arguments and Ruling Set for Monday

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary:  Prosecutors rested after calling three subpoenaed government witnesses to challenge key claims made by the defense. Witnesses testified that Infinity Millennium was registered with the government but had not paid taxes or declared income, and that QNet was not registered to import pharmaceutical products into Liberia….

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

 Ex-President Sirleaf Backs Specialized Anti-Corruption Court, Urges Boakai to Address “the Several Scandals That Plague the Society” 

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s and Africa’s first democratically elected female president, on Wednesday urged President Joseph Boakai to intensify the fight against corruption, calling on him to address what she described as “the several scandals that plague the society” while backing the creation of a Specialized National…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Jurors, Defendants and Alleged Victims Visit Site at Center of Largest Human Trafficking Trial as Case Enters Crucial Phase

Jurors in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial visited the compound in Margibi County where 57 alleged victims say they were held, abused, and forced to recruit relatives and friends into the trafficking network. Prosecutors argue the site was the base of an organization that lured people with false promises of jobs abroad before subjecting them…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Senior Police Investigator Denies Taking Defendants’ Property as Largest Trafficking Trial Reaches Closing Stages

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Summary: · The judge rejected a defense request to disregard a jury inspection report on the alleged crime scene. · Prosecutors opened their rebuttal case with seven witnesses, including victims, as senior police investigator Enoch Dunbar denied taking defendants’ property. · Additional rebuttal witnesses disputed testimony from defendants as the…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Jurors, Defendants and Alleged Victims Visit Site at Center of Largest Human Trafficking Trial as Case Enters Crucial Phase

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: ·  Jurors, defendants and alleged victims in Liberia’s biggest human trafficking trial visited the compound where all 57 victims said they were held, marking a pivotal moment as the trial enters its final stages. ·  The inspection revealed the layout of the compound, which defendants insist was a…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

‘I DID NOT TRAFFIC’: Defendant Says as Third Witness Corroborates Testimony That Vice President’s Security Inspected Alleged Trafficking Compound

Alexander Saye Plato, one of the defendants in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, denied charges of trafficking, conspiracy, and theft, while corroborating earlier testimony that members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case. He testified that the officers came to inspect the facility after the Vice…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Senate Begins Consultations on Competing War Crimes Court Bills; Advocates Hope Outstanding Issues Can Be Resolved Before Public Hearings

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: Liberia’s Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions this week began consultations on six competing bills to establish a war and economic crimes court and a national anti-corruption court, the first step in an effort to harmonize the legislation before public hearings expected to…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

‘I DID NOT TRAFFIC’: Defendant Says as Third Witness Corroborates Testimony That Vice President’s Security Inspected Alleged Trafficking Compound

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: • A third defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial corroborated testimony from two co-defendants that members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case. The defendants said the officers inspected the facility after Koung moved into the…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Two Defendants Deny Charges as Second Witness Corroborates Security Visit, Claims Vice President’s Guards Didn’t “Bother Anybody” at Compound at Heart of Case

Stanley Wonlebaye, one of the defendants in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, testified that four members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case, corroborating earlier testimony from another defendant. He claimed the officers entered, were briefed on the organization’s activities, and then left without interfering, saying…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Defendant in Largest Human Trafficking Trial Denies Charges, Claims Vice President’s Security Inspected Compound at Center of Case as Court Orders Site Visit

The defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial denied all charges, insisting that his compound was legitimate and even claimed that members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail had inspected the premises. He argued that this inspection demonstrated transparency, while the court ordered a site visit to the compound at the center of the…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Two Defendants Deny Charges as Second Witness Corroborates Security Visit, Claims Vice President’s Guards Didn’t “Bother Anybody” at Compound at Heart of Case

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: • A second defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial corroborated earlier testimony that four members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case and went further by claiming they “accepted” the operation after being briefed on their…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Defendant in Largest Human Trafficking Trial Denies Charges, Claims Vice President’s Security Inspected Compound at Center of Case as Court Orders Site Visit

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: • A defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial testified Monday that four members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail inspected the compound where victims were allegedly held before the vice president moved into a house nearby and found no evidence of the crimes. •…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Accused Trafficker Denies Charges, Says He Was Legally Recruiting Victims to Sell Products for Malaysian Firm Qnet

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: On day seven of Liberia’s largest human-trafficking trial, an accused perpetrator testified that he was an “independent representative” of QNet, the Malaysian e-commerce company, that has become synonymous with human trafficking throughout West Africa, undertaking legal activities recruiting people to be representatives and sellers for the…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Government Announces Probe of Allegations of Bribery in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Liberia’s government said on Tuesday that it will investigate bribery allegations connected to the country’s largest human trafficking trial, which is now in its second week. Sumo C. Kutu Akoi, a senior human trafficking prosecutor, when asked about the prospect of a probe, told FrontPage Africa/New Narratives that…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa