General News
Lawyer 'Swallows'
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- Published on Friday, 22 February 2013 15:38
- Written by Sam Zota, Jnr.
...Dead Body's Money
A former presidential candidate in the 2011 general and presidential elections and a notable lawyer in Liberia has been suspended from the practice of law for a period of five years.
Cllr. Marcus R. Jones was suspended for allegedly eating the money of the widow of a dead body.
Cllr. Jones, former Presidential candidate of the Victory for Change Party of Liberia, was suspended by the Supreme Court of Liberia. He was said to have been in charge of the claims for the widow of the late Rev. Eric M. Allison.
Cllr. Jones reportedly committed what the Grievance and Ethics Committee called “serious ethical and professional misconduct against the widow by mishandling and misapplying her death benefits.”
“Accordingly, the report of the Grievance and Ethics Committee recommending penalty for the ethical transgressions committed by him (Cllr. Jones) is endorsed with modifications, however, that Cllr. Marcus R. Jones be, and he is hereby suspended from the practice of law directly and indirectly in Liberia for the period of five years,” the Supreme Court ruled
The High Court ordered Cllr. Jones to pay the amount of US$62,130.00 to Rev. Allison and children within three months as of the date of the delivery of the opinion which is dated February 20, 2013.
The Court also warned that failure by Cllr. Jones to comply with its opinion, his suspension will automatically become disbarment.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also suspended for six months, Criminal Court “B” Judge, Korboi K. Nuta for unethical behavior.
During the period of the suspension, the Court said Judge Nuta will forfeit all salaries, benefits and other emoluments to which he would otherwise be entitled.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Circuit Court Judge would be permanently removed from his post if he is found guilty of any proven violation of the Judicial Canon.
The Supreme Court decision followed a complaint filed by Mr. Stanley Y. Sual, a resident of the Bong Mines Bridge community on Bushrod Island.
Information Minister, Lewis Brown said the decision by the Supreme Court indicates that the government is ready and serious in the fight against corruption and other misconducts.
