-Orders him to pay US$150 within one week
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
Criminal Court A’ has ruled that Montserrado County District #6 Representative Samuel Enders is guilty of misconduct related to the assault of a court clerk. He has been fined US$150.00, which must be paid within one week, from Tuesday, January 14 to Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The deposit receipts are to be submitted to the Clerk of Criminal Court A.
Representative Enders was under investigation by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie for allegedly obstructing proceedings at the Paynesville Magisterial Court.
“The Court having listened to the parties and the amice-curiae, Cllr. Sandra Howard, who was present during the incident, rules as follows: Both parties, Atty. Gbawou Kowou and Representative Samuel Enders, are guilty of misconduct, which resulted in the Clerk being assaulted. For this act, they are hereby fined US$100.00 and US$150.00, respectively.”
Atty. Gbawou Kowou is fined US$100.00 to be paid into the Judiciary Account because he initiated the disturbance. Representative Enders is fined US$150.00 for restraining Atty. Kowou from leaving the courtroom and for bringing approximately 20 individuals to the court premises, who disrupted court operations and assaulted court officers.
The birth
The Stipendiary Magistrate of the Paynesville Magisterial Court, His Honor William G. Saygah, had earlier written a communication to Criminal Court ‘A’ Judge, Roosevelt Z. Willie complaining to Representative Samuel Enders who is also a clergyman for disrupting the functions of the court by bringing 20 thugs (hooligans), he referred to as his securities within the Court vicinity to drag and flog Atty. Ghawou Kowou, while Court proceedings were being conducted.
The Magistrate’s complaint further stated that due to the illegal entry of the hooligans into the Court premises and in the Courtroom, some Court officers including the Clerk of Court, Mr Hector Dolo were assaulted and that he the Magistrate did everything possible peaceably to resolve the situation with Representative Samuel Enders, but he refused and continued his outburst along with his thugs.
Based on the complaint from the Stipendiary Magistrate, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie cited all the parties including Magistrate William G. Saygah, Representative Samuel Enders, Atty. Gbawou Kowou, Hector M. Dolo, Clerk of the Magistrate Court, Atty. Prince S. Conway and Sheriff Roosevelt Bryant for investigation.
During the investigation, the Court inquired from each person regarding the role each of them specifically played during the incident as reported by the Magistrate.
Magistrate explained
Accordingly, the Magistrate explained that Representative Samuel Enders had gone to the Court for a case, and while in the Court, someone in the Court referred to him as Reverend/Pastor but, Atty. Gbawou Kowou refuted the statement and told the person not to call the Representative reverend Pastor as he had said on several occasions and on the radio that he is not a reverend pastor.
The Court communication had it that It is this statement made by Atty. Gbawou annoyed Representative Enders for which they began to exchange offensive words and made the Court room very noisy and unpleasant for party litigants who had come for their cases to be adjudicated.
The Magistrate stated that he then advised Atty. Gbawou Kowou to leave the Court but while Atty. Gbawou was leaving the Court, when Representative Enders blocked the doorway to prevent Atty. Kowou from leaving until his (Representative ENDERS) security details can come to beat and drag Atty. Gbawou Kowou to teach him a lesson, since he does not respect his leaders.
Additionally, according to the Magistrate, Representative Enders then called his securities and some of them forced themselves in the Courtroom and the situation went out of hand and resulted in some of the Court officers being injured.
The Sheriff, Mr. Roosevelt Bryant, and the Clerk, Hector Dolo confirmed this statement and Mr. Dolo further stated that he was assaulted by one of the thugs brought in by Representative Samuel Enders. Atty. Gbawou Kowou told the conference that what the Magistrate explained was exactly what took place in the Courtroom and further admitted that indeed he made the statement that Representative Samuel Enders is no longer a Reverend/Pastor.
Rep. Enders explanation
During the explanation of Representative Samuel Enders, he told the hearing that he was surprised by the explanation given by the Magistrate and Court officers to include Atty. Gbawou Kowou.
He stated that when he appeared at the Court, somebody called him reverend and Atty. Gbawou stated that Representative Samuel Enders is no longer a Pastor so no one should call him pastor or reverend. When he began to question Atty. Gbawou Kowou as to who told him that Representative Enders is not a Pastor/reverend, Atty. Obawou Kowou became annoyed and began to insult him. Representative Enders further stated that due to the action of Atty. Kowou felt threatened and sent for his securities.
He further stated that only two of his security men arrived on the compound and were there to prevent Atty. Gbawou Kowou and the rest of the Court officers from mishandling him. He admitted that the Courtroom and its surroundings were disturbed.
The Court went further to inquire from Cllr. Sandra Howard stated that she had gone to the Court for a case and witnessed the incident and she even forwarded a video concerning the behavior of Representative Samuel Enders. She further stated that Representative Enders brought thugs into the Courtroom and compound and when she tried to stop him, he refused and continued to disturb the operations of the Court.
