Monrovia — Justin Opa Yeazeahn, popularly generally known as “Prophet Key,” on Thursday, February 12, admitted earlier than the Full Bench of the Supreme Courtroom of Liberia that his current social media assaults in opposition to Chief Justice Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay have been contemptuous, and pleaded with the Courtroom to mood justice with mercy.
By Willie N. Tokpah
“I promise you that I cannot cuss or abuse once more,” Prophet Key informed the Justices, vowing to reform his conduct not solely towards the Chief Justice but additionally towards girls and different public officers.
The contempt proceedings stem from a collection of Fb broadcasts by which Prophet Key allegedly accused Chief Justice Gbeisay of corruption, claimed the Chief Justice obtained cash from litigants to finish building of a lodge, asserted that the whole Supreme Courtroom Bench was corrupt, referenced the Chief Justice’s Nimba County origin, and made disparaging remarks concerning the Chief Justice’s mom.
‘My Actions Have been Out of Frustration’
Addressing the Courtroom, Mr. Yeazeahn stated his feedback have been made out of frustration over issues repeatedly raised to him by residents, significantly concerning the Saye City land dispute and reported evictions of occupants.
He insisted he harbors no private animosity towards Chief Justice Gbeisay however conceded that his language crossed the road. Whereas referencing an African cultural notion that robust language is usually used to confront perceived wrongdoing—remarking that “cuss or abuse could make witchcraft afraid”—he acknowledged that his strategy was fallacious and pledged to vary.
Protection counsel Cllrs. Bestman Juah and Joseph Debleh informed the Courtroom that their consumer absolutely accepts duty for his actions.
“In a convention with our consumer, he knowledgeable us to let you know, Your Honors, that his motion is contemptuous,” Cllr. Juah acknowledged. “He’s remorseful and asks that you simply mood justice with mercy.”
The protection additional disclosed that Prophet Key decreased his apology to writing and formally expressed remorse over the incident.
Amici Curiae: Abuse Not Protected by the Structure
Courtroom-appointed amici curiae, Cllr. M. Wilkins Wright Jr. and Cllr. Richard Scott Jr., urged the Courtroom to seek out that Prophet Key’s conduct constitutes contempt and isn’t shielded by constitutional ensures of free speech.
Cllr. Wright framed two points for the Courtroom’s willpower: whether or not an individual who engages in abusive and indecent language can declare safety beneath the Structure’s ensures of freedom of speech and expression; and whether or not contempt is dedicated when such assaults are directed on the Chief Justice or different authorities officers.
Whereas acknowledging constitutional protections for freedom of thought, opinion, faith, and expression, Wright argued that these rights are usually not absolute. He emphasised that they’re topic to limitations within the curiosity of public security, nationwide safety, and the safety of the rights and reputations of others.
“Each citizen has the precise to freedom of speech and opinion,” Wright argued. “However when that expression invades the rights of others, the legislation should take its course.”
Quoting Article 5(b) of the 1986 Structure, which mandates the Republic to protect, defend, and promote optimistic Liberian tradition and values, Wright contended that unprovoked insults, indecent language, and assaults on girls don’t mirror optimistic Liberian values and can’t be justified as protected speech.
He described Prophet Key’s remarks in opposition to the Chief Justice and his mom as an “unprovoked assault on human decency,” asserting that no affordable individual would interact in such assaults.
The amici curiae maintained that the Supreme Courtroom possesses inherent authority to find out what constitutes contempt and argued that Prophet Key’s conduct squarely meets that customary. Wright urged the Courtroom to impose applicable punishment, together with imprisonment, to ship a transparent message that Liberia won’t tolerate abusive assaults on its establishments.
“Abuse can’t be ignored,” Wright informed the Bench. “It should not go unpunished.”
Chief Justice Cites Sample of Public Abuse
In the course of the proceedings, Chief Justice Gbeisay noticed that the assault in opposition to him and his mom was not an remoted incident in Liberia’s public area.
He referenced prior insults directed on the moms of former President George Manneh Weah, former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, Nationwide Elections Fee Chairperson Davidetta Brown Lansanah, and former Cultural Ambassador Juli Endee, describing what he termed a troubling sample of public discourse focusing on girls and distinguished figures.
Following arguments from the protection and the amici curiae, the Supreme Courtroom reserved ruling within the matter.
The choice is scheduled to be delivered on Friday, February 13, at 11:00 a.m.
The anticipated ruling is predicted to make clear the boundaries of free expression beneath Liberia’s Structure and outline the scope of the Supreme Courtroom’s contempt powers, significantly within the period of social media activism and digital commentary. The result may set a big precedent on how far public criticism of judicial officers might go earlier than crossing into punishable contempt.
