Anthony Stephens

In Stunning Development Accused Trafficker Pleads Guilty, Testifies Against Co-Defendants in Country’s Largest Trafficking Trial

In a dramatic twist during Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, one of the accused traffickers stunned the court by pleading guilty and testifying against her co-defendants. Her confession and cooperation mark a pivotal moment in the landmark case, which involves dozens of victims and multiple defendants, signaling a potential breakthrough in the country’s fight against…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Three More Defendants Plead Guilty in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: Day three of this mammoth human trafficking trial with 57 victims and 27 defendants started with more drama as three more defendants pleaded guilty Thursday, claiming they were victims who had been coerced into recruiting others. They made the admissions in a bid to win clemency from prosecutors…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Liberia’s War Crimes Push Revives as Boakai Receives Draft Laws After

President Joseph Boakai has now received draft laws that could pave the way for theprosecution of atrocities committed during the country’s brutal civil wars.But beneath the ceremony and symbolism lies a fierce struggle over funding, politics andaccountability — one that could determine whether Liberia finally confronts its violent past ordelays justice once again.In this collaboration…

Anthony Stephens
Radio

Rights Chief Faults Country on Corruption as U.N. Justice Training

Liberia’s human rights chief is warning that corruption is not just a governance problem — but athreat to justice and human rights.The warning comes as the United Nations begins training prosecutors and investigators to handlecorruption cases in a new way to investigate and try corruption cases for the new anticorruption andeconomic crimes courts set to…

Anthony Stephens
Radio

In Stunning Development Accused Trafficker Pleads Guilty, Testifies Against Co-Defendants in Country’s Largest Trafficking Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives A stunning turn in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial unfolded Wednesday as one of the 12 defendants pleaded guilty and took the stand against her co-defendants. Moments before proceedings resumed in the morning, Shelley Jonny, dressed in a blue prison uniform, moved from the dock to address the…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

In First Day of Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial, Victim Breaks Down During Testimony and Identifies Alleged Rapist

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Summary: One of 57 alleged victims in the country’s largest human-trafficking case broke down during her testimony in open court, crying as she described how the man she identified—Daniel Davis—raped her after putting a drug in her drink in one of the trial’s most dramatic opening moments. After…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Jury Selection Begins in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial as Defendants Plead Not Guilty

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Summary: Jury selection began Monday in what prosecutors and anti-trafficking advocates describe as Liberia’s largest human trafficking case, nine months after victims, some of the country’s poorest citizens, first filed complaints against the accused perpetrators. Prosecutors and defense lawyers screened prospective jurors at Criminal Court “A” at…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

11 Indicted in Country’s Biggest Trafficking Ring After FrontPage Africa Investigation Exposed Allegations Bribes Were About to Derail the Case

A grand jury in Monrovia has indicted 11 suspects in Liberia’s biggest human trafficking case to date, after a FrontPage Africa/New Narratives investigation revealed attempts to bribe officials to weaken charges. Prosecutors say the accused lured 57 victims with false promises of jobs abroad, then held them captive in compounds where they were beaten, starved,…

Anthony Stephens
Video

11 Indicted in Country’s Biggest Trafficking Ring After FrontPage Africa Investigation Exposed Allegations Bribes Were About to Derail the Case

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Summary: A grand jury in Monrovia has indicted 11 people accused of operating a sprawling human trafficking ring that prosecutors say lured dozens of Liberians with promises of jobs abroad before holding them captive, extorting money from their families and subjecting some victims to rape and torture….

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

After Delays and Bribery Allegations, Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Case Goes to Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Ten of the 11 people accused in what prosecutors and anti-trafficking experts describe asLiberia’s largest human trafficking case are scheduled to go on trial Wednesday, weeks after aMontserrado County grand jury indicted them over the alleged trafficking and exploitation of57 poor people from seven of Liberia’s 15…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Dispute Between War Crimes Court Office and Justice Minister Spills Into Public View Casting Cloud Over Court

A dispute between the head of the office of Liberia’s war and economics crimes court and senior government officials – including the Justice Minister – has spilled into public view, clouding progress towards Liberia’s efforts to prosecute those most responsible for war crimes committed in the country. In this collaboration with New Narratives, senior justice…

Anthony Stephens
Radio

Liberia’s War Crimes Push Revives as Boakai Receives Draft Laws After Period of Doubt

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Summary: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Wednesday received draft bills for a proposed war and economic crimes court and a national anti-corruption court, barely four days after renewing the mandate of the Office tasked with establishing the tribunals. Boakai had ordered it to work immediately with the Legislature to secure passage…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Peace Prize in Hand, Boakai Gives Legislature 90 Days to Make War Crimes Court Law

Liberia takes a historic step toward justice as President Joseph Boakai, fresh from receiving a peace prize in the U.S., has given lawmakers 90 days to pass legislation establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court. Backed by $2 million in annual funding, Boakai’s bold move renews hope for accountability and reconciliation after decades of delay….

Anthony Stephens
Video

Liberian Rights Chief Faults Country on Corruption as U.N. Justice Training Gets Underway

Liberia’s Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) chief sharply criticized the country’s persistent corruption problem, warning that it undermines justice and governance. His remarks came as the United Nations launched a justice training program aimed at strengthening rule of law institutions, with the hope that such initiatives can help Liberia confront systemic issues that…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Liberian Rights Chief Faults Country on Corruption as U.N. Justice Training Gets Underway

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Summary: The United Nations  began training Liberian prosecutors, investigators and civil society actors to tackle corruption through a human rights lens this week, as the country advances plans to establish a National Anti-Corruption Court and the long-delayed War and Economic Crimes Court. The two-day initiative was…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Gambia Begins Paying Reparations to Victims of Jammeh-Era Crimes

The Gambia has begun paying reparations to victims of crimes committed during the violent 22-year regime of former president Yahya Jammeh, which ended in 2017. The country’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission recommended that more than 1,000 victims receive 237 million dalasi (about $3.7 million) for abuses that left around 250 people dead and thousands…