MONROVIA, September 7 (LINA) – The Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court “A,” Judge Johannes Zlahn, has dismissed the complaint of jury tempering in the case involving Fofana Sheriff charged with aggravated assault on August 29, 2014.

On September 3, 2014, the Sheriff of the court, whose name was not disclosed, complained that Defense Counsel Charles Abdullah was seen conversing with some members of the jury in the corridor of the court, according to the Liberia News Agency.
The sheriff’s statement, he said, was based on information passed on to him by the unidentified sister of prosecutor Fatu Fofna Sheriff.
However, the spokesperson of the empanelled jury, Charles Mendeh, categorically denied the allegation during testimony stating that the Sheriff was providing misleading information to the court in a bid to discredit the jurors.
In rendering his opinion, Judge Zlahn said the allegation is false and cannot constitute jury tampering in violation of the integrity of the jury system and the law, adding that there has been no evidence of jury tempering either by Abdullah or anyone in thes case.
Judge Zlahn added that the court is of the opinion that neither Cllr. Abdullah nor the empanelled jurors had engaged in any act of impropriety, and that the Sheriff was overzealous in his attempt to exercise authority which he lacks.
He noted that in so doing, the Sheriff has attempted to impugn the repetition of Cllr. Abdullah.
The judge said considering the lack of evidence in the allegation, he was left with no alternative but to dismiss the complaint.
LINA CMJ/JGT/PTK