Monrovia– Justine Oldpa Yeazeahn, popularly generally known as Prophet Key, has begun serving a six-month jail sentence on the Monrovia Central Jail following a contempt ruling by the Supreme Courtroom of Liberia.
The Supreme Courtroom on Friday discovered Prophet Key responsible of contempt, a day after he appeared earlier than the Full Bench, admitted wrongdoing, and pleaded with the justices to mood justice with mercy.
He was escorted to jail by court docket sheriffs, backed by officers of the Liberia Nationwide Police, in a closely guarded convoy.
Prophet Key had been summoned to indicate trigger why he shouldn’t be held in contempt for publicly ridiculing the Courtroom. The fees stemmed from a sequence of social media statements during which he verbally attacked Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay and his mom, and accused the Supreme Courtroom of corruption.
In its ruling, the Courtroom mentioned his actions have been contemptuous and undermined the dignity and integrity of the judiciary, warranting a custodial sentence.
The choice has drawn blended reactions.
Some residents — significantly girls’s teams — welcomed the ruling, describing it as a vital step to uphold respect for girls and public establishments. Nonetheless, critics argue that the judgment infringes on freedom of speech.
“This isn’t justice. The Supreme Courtroom’s ruling violates the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act and units a troubling precedent,” one onlooker on the Monrovia Central Jail mentioned.
One other analyst cautioned: “Liberia can not declare to guard free speech whereas punishing it in impact. Free expression can not rely upon judicial temper or selective enforcement.”
A 3rd critic warned that if the ruling stands with out clear justification per the Press Freedom Act, it may sign a troubling shift.
“If the Prophet Key ruling stands with out clear alignment with the Press Freedom Act, then Liberia dangers making a actuality the place free speech exists in title however not in follow,” the analyst mentioned.
