By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
At least nine young men who had been held in prolonged pretrial detention at the Gbarnga Central Prison have regained their freedom following a legal intervention led by a Liberian humanitarian lawyer, Jeremiah Samuel Dugba I during the Christmas period.
The detainees, aged between 19 and 31 and born between 1994 and 2005, were accused primarily of minor or petty offenses. However, they remained incarcerated for months and, in some cases, years without trial, largely due to their inability to afford legal representation.
According to Atty. Dugbo their continued detention raised serious concerns about due process and the constitutional right to a speedy trial.
Appearing before the court in Bong County, the Atty. Dugbo invoked provisions of Liberia’s Constitution and relevant statutes governing criminal procedure, arguing that the prolonged detention of the accused without hearings or trial violated their fundamental rights.
His argument was agreed upon by the court through his submissions and subsequently ordered the immediate release of the detainees.
One case that drew particular attention involved a young man identified as John, who had reportedly spent nearly a year in prison over an allegation involving the theft of a rooster.
Court records have shown that during his detention, no substantive hearing was conducted in his case.
Legal observers note that such cases reflect a broader challenge within the justice system, where individuals accused of minor offenses are often detained for extended periods after complainants abandon cases or fail to pursue prosecution.
Atty. Dugbo spent two days in Gbarnga coordinating efforts with the judiciary, prosecution, and correctional authorities to facilitate the releases.
Speaking afterward, he expressed hope that the freed men would recover from the trauma of incarceration and reintegrate meaningfully into society.
Human rights groups have continued to call for stronger safeguards to prevent prolonged pretrial detention, emphasizing that liberty remains a fundamental right guaranteed under the law.
Atty. Dugbo is one of the first lawyers to have individually secured out of prison on pretrial.His move has been hugely welcomed by several individuals describing it as the unthinkable.
