By: Elijah Easter Kaykay
The legal process has officially begun in a high-profile criminal case at the Compound #3 Magisterial Court, involving a Nigerian national and two Liberian men.
The case, titled ‘The Republic of Liberia v. Chucks Ohacheni, Solomon Samue, and Aaron Kollie’, centers on allegations of theft, conspiracy, and economic sabotage.
The defendants are charged with theft of property, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, and economic sabotage.
They are accused of vandalizing and stealing equipment belonging to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) within Compound #3, Grand Bassa County.
During Friday’s court session, the City Solicitor requested a change of venue for the trial, citing concerns over public trust and the potential for bias.
The Solicitor explained that the trial’s initial location in Wayzohn City has raised public concerns that local tensions could influence proceedings, thereby risking the fairness of the trial.
“The environment in Wayzohn City has created doubts about the impartiality of the trial,” the City Solicitor stated.
“To ensure justice and maintain public confidence, we believe relocating the trial is necessary.”
The court took the request under advisement and decided to postpone a ruling on a change of venue.
A subsequent hearing will determine whether the trial will be moved to a different location.
The accused include Nigerian national Chucks Ohacheni, who has been released on bail as well as Liberians Solomon Samue and Aaron Kollie, who remain in custody pending further proceedings.
The case has attracted significant public attention, reflecting ongoing concerns about transparency and justice in the district.
It also underscores the importance of an impartial judicial process, particularly in matters involving multiple nationalities and sensitive issues.
The community and legal observers are closely watching the court’s decision regarding the change of venue.
