Monrovia, Liberia | The Sixth Judicial Circuit Court on Friday sentenced sixteen individuals to one month each at Monrovia Central Prison after finding them guilty of criminal contempt for violently obstructing court officers enforcing a Supreme Court eviction mandate in Paynesville.
Presiding over the hearing at the Civil Law Court Annex, Judge Peter W. Gbeneweleh emphasized that repeated assaults on court personnel could no longer be tolerated, stating that the judiciary would not allow defiance of its orders.
Second Violent Confrontation at Disputed Property
The contempt charges arose after a November 13, 2025, attempt to enforce a Supreme Court mandate restoring possession of a Paynesville property to the Intestate Estate of Batune Keita. The Sheriff of the Civil Law Court, Liberia National Police officers, and a licensed surveyor faced violent resistance from individuals allegedly linked to the Intestate Estate of the late Mamadee M. Kamara.
The sixteen suspects arrested at the scene included Abraham Jalloh, Imam Abu Kamara, Osman Toure, Sekou S. Kamara, Alpha Kamara, Mohammed Kromah, Hassan Kamara, Prince Roberts, Mohammed Diakateh, Mohammed A. Kamara, Ousmane, James Fallah, Dawuda Kamara, Sekou Kamara, Lusane Kamara, and Secka Kromah.
Pattern of Attacks on Court Officers
Judge Gbeneweleh recounted a series of prior assaults on court officers, including a September 27, 2025, incident when bailiffs enforcing a Writ of Possession were pelted with stones and forced to retreat. Following that attack, the court formally requested police support on October 2, 2025, citing threats to the lives of its personnel. Earlier in the dispute, seven individuals were also arrested for similar conduct, with four sentenced to 14 days in prison. Despite warnings, violence continued.
Courtroom Proceedings: Pleas for Leniency
During Friday’s hearing, Cllr. Richard Scott representing the Ministry of Justice argued that the defendants had deliberately undermined the authority of the courts. Defense counsel Atty. Fofee V. Kamara expressed remorse on behalf of the accused, citing hardships in detention and pledging that such conduct would not recur.
Several defendants addressed the court personally. Mohammed A. Kamara stated, “We regret our actions and it will never be repeated.” Hassan Kamara added, “We are asking the court to please forgive us.” Judge Gbeneweleh, however, noted that similar assurances had been made in prior proceedings.
Judge Issues Stern Warning
“The Sheriff of this court has been violently attacked multiple times while executing the Supreme Court’s mandate,” Judge Gbeneweleh said. “Even after warnings, community meetings, and earlier sentencing of four individuals, the attacks continued. The rule of law cannot be held hostage by violence.”
The judge noted that the law permits a sentence of up to five months for criminal contempt but opted for a one-month sentence in light of the defendants’ pleas. Commitment orders were immediately issued.
Prolonged Land Dispute Reaches Enforcement Stage
The conflict stems from a five-year dispute between the estates of Batune Keita and Mamadee M. Kamara. Administrator Mohammed Tanji Keita filed a complaint in 2020, alleging that the Kamara estate illegally occupied two lots originally purchased by his late father in 1989. A survey by Samuel W. Danway Jr. confirmed that several structures, including the building housing EcoBank, encroached on Keita’s property. The Civil Law Court ruled in favor of the Keita estate, a verdict later affirmed by the Supreme Court, which ordered all unlawful occupants evicted and possession restored.
