IPNEWS: The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has fired a sharp rebuke at the Guthrie Magisterial Court in Gbah Jarkel, Bomi County, demanding it immediately drop what it calls “unfounded” criminal libel and privacy violation charges against two Trust FM journalists.
Varney Williams and William Kromah face a court summons for Friday, March 27, after Deputy Security Director of Mano Oil Palm Company, Varney D. Foday, accused Williams of snapping and sharing his photo on social media without consent.
Foday claims the image, passed to Kromah, sparked public ridicule and damaged his reputation.PUL categorically rejects the allegations, labeling them a “grave judicial misstep” and direct assault on press freedom. The union urges Associate Magistrate Jawollay G. Reed to dismiss the writ outright, arguing journalists were simply reporting on Foday’s own legal troubles.
Foday, alongside private security guards Thomas Teah, Levi Kandakai, and Samuel Dennis, was ordered arrested on March 21 by the Madina Magisterial Court in Grand Cape Mount County.
They face charges of reckless burning, criminal trespass, theft of property, and criminal conspiracy – stemming from a Republic of Liberia complaint via private prosecutor Bendu Kandakai.
The case, alleging over $5,000 in losses (US$2,410 and L$638,800), is before Stipendiary Magistrate Atty. Milton Fahnbulleh.”Journalists were fulfilling their duty to report accurately on an ongoing legal matter,” PUL stated, noting no law bars using publicly available photos of a court-ordered arrestee.
President Julius Kanubah hammered the point: “There is no law that prohibits journalists from taking or utilizing publicly available photographs – including those of Mr. Varney D. Foday, who has been ordered arrested… on serious charges.”Kanubah added: “As a private security officer providing public services… pursuing charges against journalists for reporting on these developments is both unreasonable and unjustifiable.”The clash highlights rising tensions over media scrutiny of private security firms tied to government-sanctioned operations like Mano Oil Palm.
PUL vows to fight judicial harassment, calling for an end to cases that “intimidate journalists and undermine public accountability.”The Guthrie Court has yet to respond.
