TUBMANBURG, Bomi – The ongoing trial involving fifteen Liberian girls allegedly trafficked to Lebanon has suffered a major setback after a majority of its jurors were dismissed.

Judge William Sando of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg rejected 12 out of the 15 empaneled jurors on the trafficking case on Thursday, Sept. 17.

Sando’s ruling comes a week after the defense counsel for Abbas El Debes suggested that the heavily armed members of the Liberia National Police were intimidating jurors.

During cross-examination of defense counsel Adriss Sheriff, Sheriff told the court that he witnessed several people at a Total Gas Station saying that the jurors were intimidated by the heavy presence of the police.

The prosecution team, led by Attorney David Woah, argued that Sheriff failed to disclose to the court the name of the person that was heard discussing.

Although there was no proof that the men talking at the gas station had contact with the jurors, Woah said that if such news about the jury was heard from an individual in the public, it suggests that one of the jurors informed that person. “The jurors, after being isolated, should not be in contact with anyone in the public,” he added.

During his argument, Woah told the court that the 12 of the 15 empaneled jurors that were selected earlier and isolated should be removed because they did not maintain their neutrality.

Sando ruled that the police presence on the court’s premises was in no way intended to intimidate any staff of the court. He said the presence is meant to protect lives, property and send a signal to would-be criminals.

However, the judge ordered the sheriff of the court to write the commissioners of the four districts in Bomi to submit names of prospective jurors to appear in court on Sept. 21.

Featured photo of Attorney David Woah by Zeze Ballah