MONROVIA, April 9 (LINA) - One of 10 defendants in the multiple crime trial has filed a motion for severance trial at the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
Defendant Clemenceau Urey, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), and nine others were arrested early February and charged with economic sabotage, bribery and criminal conspiracy for allegedly illegally using funds belonging to NOCAL.
Urey said in his motion filed Wednesday that the charges levied against him are based on allegation of illegal payment by NOCAL to members of the 52nd National Legislature, noting that he was indicted and charged with the offenses in his capacity as former Chairman of the Board of Directors of NOCAL.
He indicated that as chairman, he was only permitted to vote in cases where there was a tie, adding that he did not vote to approve any payment to the Legislature.
He argued that since he did not authorize or approve of any payment, there was no legal or factual basis for him to have been indicted along with the other defendants.
According to Urey, he never participated in the day-to-day management or operation of NOCAL and did not sign any check or authorize the disbursement of any payment to the Legislature.
He added that the prosecution cannot produce any documentary evidence to confirm that he voted for or endorsed the payment.
Meanwhile, Criminal Court “C” Judge Peter Gbeneweleh has said that the court will entertain arguments in the motion on Thursday.
LINA