By G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
Former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott has been granted compassionate leave from the Monrovia Central Prison by the Ministry of Justice. This decision was made in accordance with Chapter 34.20 of the criminal procedure law of Liberia, which allows for compassionate leave under certain circumstances.
According to our Judicial Reporter, former Chief Justice Scott requested leave to conduct an inventory at her property that was recently burglarized. The Minister of Justice approved her request, allowing her to temporarily leave the prison for this important personal matter.
The rules and regulations governing compassionate leave specify that it may be granted for reasons such as visiting a seriously ill close relative, attending the funeral of a close relative, or returning home for compelling reasons that strongly appeal to compassion. The duration of the leave, custody, transportation, and care of the prisoner during their absence are all outlined in these regulations.
Chapter 34.20. of the criminal procedure law of Liberia states, “The Minister of Justice shall formulate rules or regulations governing compassionate leave from institutions and, in accordance with such rules and regulations, may permit any prisoner to leave his institution for short periods, either by himself or in the custody of an officer, to visit a close relative who is seriously ill, to attend the funeral of a close relative, to return to his home during what appears to be his own last illness, or to return to his home for other compelling reasons which strongly appeal to compassion.”
Furthermore, the rules allow for the reimbursement of expenses connected with the leave, with the option for the prisoner or someone on their behalf to cover these costs.
It can be recalled that juries on December 21, 2023, brought down a unanimous guilty verdict on former chief justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, along with her family – Alice C. Johnson, Gertrude Newtown, and Rebecca Wisner convicted them of the crimes of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and Making false statements to law enforcement officers.
Criminal court A’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie rendered a life sentence of imprisonment on the former chief justice and her family.
The former Chief Justice and her three relatives were sentenced following an accident on February 22, 2023, that led to the death of Charloe Musu, Cllr. Scott’s niece, at her home in Brewerville.
Reading the imprisonment sentence, Judge Willie intimated that the sentence was based on the guilty verdict brought down by juries and determined from the testimonies provided by the defense and witnesses.
The former chief justice denied the charge, saying the 29-year-old had been killed by an “assassin” who had entered her home in the capital, Monrovia. Her arrest came as a shock to many Liberians and her trial was closely followed, especially as it came in the build-up to December’s presidential election.
Cllr.-Scott was a prominent member of President-elect Joseph Boakai’s political party and was part of its high-powered legal team which successfully challenged the election commission’s refusal to allow parties to see the voters’ roll. She served as Liberia’s justice minister and then as its most senior judge – the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court – until her retirement in 2003.
Moreover, she later entered politics, and was a lawmaker in Maryland County until 2012, according to the African Women in Law website. In 2012, she was appointed the chairperson of the Constitutional Review Committee, as Liberia tried to strengthen democracy and good governance following the authoritarian rule and conflicts of the past.
After the jury’s verdict, a prosecuting lawyer was quoted as saying that there was overwhelming evidence against the accused and he believed it had given the right verdict.
