By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I
MONROVIA, Liberia – The Sixth Judicial Circuit Court has sentenced sixteen individuals to one month in prison for violently obstructing a Supreme Court-mandated eviction, sending a clear message that attacks on the rule of law will not be tolerated.
The sixteen defendants were found guilty of criminal contempt on Friday for their roles in a November 13 confrontation in Paynesville. The incident saw court officers, police, and a surveyor—tasked with enforcing a Supreme Court order to restore a disputed property to the Intestate Estate of Batune Keita—met with violent resistance from supporters of the opposing party, the Intestate Estate of the late Mamadee M. Kamara.
Presiding Judge Peter W. Gbeneweleh did not mince words, condemning what he described as a repeated and deliberate pattern of attacks against the judiciary. This was not an isolated event; it was the second major violent confrontation in recent months.
“This court has been violently attacked multiple times while executing the Supreme Court’s mandate,” Judge Gbeneweleh stated from the bench. “Even after warnings, community meetings, and the previous sentencing of four individuals, the attacks continued. The rule of law cannot be held hostage by violence.”
The court records reveal a troubling timeline of defiance:
September 27, 2025: Bailiffs attempting to execute a Writ of Possession were assaulted with stones, forcing a retreat.
October 2, 2025: The court formally requested police support, citing imminent threats to its officers’ safety.
November 13, 2025: The second enforcement attempt was again met with violence, leading to the arrest of all sixteen individuals present.
In court, the defendants, including Abraham Jalloh, Imam Abu Kamara, and Osman Toure, offered remorseful pleas. “We regret our action and it will never be repeated,” said defendant Mohammed A. Kamara. Defense counsel Atty. Fofee V. Kamara apologized and highlighted the hardship of their detention.
However, these appeals were met with judicial skepticism. Representing the state, Cllr. Richard Scott argued that the defendants had knowingly undermined judicial authority. Judge Gbeneweleh recalled that similar promises had been broken after a previous incident where four individuals were sentenced and later released early following community intervention.
The sentencing is the latest flashpoint in a long-standing legal battle over a valuable piece of land in Paynesville. The conflict dates back to a 2020 complaint filed by Administrator Mohammed Tanji Keita, who alleged that the Kamara estate had illegally occupied two lots his late father, Batune Keita, purchased in 1989.
A professional survey confirmed the encroachment, revealing that several structures, including the EcoBank building, were unlawfully situated on the Keita property. The Civil Law Court ruled in favor of the Keita estate, a decision that was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court, leading to the eviction order that sparked the violent resistance.
While the law allowed for a five-month sentence, Judge Gbeneweleh imposed a one-month term at Monrovia Central Prison, citing the defendants’ pleas as a mitigating factor. The immediate issuance of commitment orders underscored the court’s resolve to see its judgment enforced, marking a significant step in a dispute where the authority of the court itself had become part of the battle.
