-Slams ‘Prolonged Detention’ at South Beach
By Vaye Lepolu
Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered the release of 45 pretrial detainees from the Monrovia Central Prison at South Beach, criticizing prolonged detention practices that continue to undermine Liberia’s justice system and constitutional guarantees.
The release marks the first batch of 219 inmates expected to regain their freedom after the court determined that the government failed to prosecute them within the time required by law. The detainees were released “without prejudice to the state,” meaning prosecutors may still refile charges in the future.
Judge Willie based his ruling on Sections 18.1 and 18.2 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, which require the dismissal of complaints or indictments when the state fails to indict or prosecute defendants within the next succeeding court term unless a valid legal justification is provided.
According to the court, several detainees had spent between eight and 19 court terms nearly two to four years in prison without indictment or trial, in what the Judge described as a serious violation of both constitutional and international human rights standards.
The ruling has once again exposed longstanding concerns over delays in Liberia’s criminal justice system, overcrowded prison conditions, and weak prosecutorial accountability.
Prison officials informed the court that congestion at South Beach has become unbearable, with inmates reportedly “sleeping on each other” because of limited space. Reports presented before the court also indicated that some detainees allegedly paid money to others in order to secure sleeping areas during the night.
The release followed a motion filed by defense lawyer Sennay Carlor II, who argued that the Ministry of Justice had neglected its responsibility to prosecute the detainees within the timeframe mandated by law.
Despite the seriousness of some of the allegations against the released detainees including murder, attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault, human trafficking, theft of property, manslaughter, and illegal possession of firearms — the court maintained that no citizen can be held indefinitely without due process.
Among those released were Alien Kamara, Mark Marland, Jerome Brown, Blessings Sherman, Louis Demen, Emmanuel Tarpeh, Moses Sanoe, Elijah Zanwcnjah, and Maduka Bangue, along with several others.
Before approving the releases, Judge Willie ordered the Clerk of Court to record the addresses and contact information of all discharged detainees.
This is not the first time Judge Willie has taken such action. In April 2025, he released more than 100 detainees after defense lawyers, including Cllr. Carlor II and Aloysius Toe, filed similar motions citing statutory delays.
The judge had also previously discharged 17 inmates, some of whom reportedly spent between six and nine years behind bars without indictment, citing violations of Article 21(f) and (h) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia and Section 18.2 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
In several of his rulings, Judge Willie stressed that detainees were not being released because they had been declared innocent, but because the government failed to prosecute them as required under Liberian law.
Legal observers say the latest release highlights urgent concerns over prison overcrowding, slow judicial proceedings, and the need for the government to accelerate completion of the Cheesemanburg Prison Facility to reduce pressure on South Beach Prison and restore confidence in the country’s justice system.
