April 20, 2005 - (Liberian Observer) he Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia frowns on the weakness of the law on rape and mild penalty for the offense.

Chairman Charles Gyude Bryant has called for stiff penalty for rapists in the country. Rapists he said are not insane people and should not be treated with mercy since they commit the act in their right mind. He frowned on the weakness of the law on rape and the mild penalty of the offense.
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Chairman Bryant made the statement at the opening of a two-day consultative forum on legislative reform organized by the Justice Ministry and the Legal and Judicial system support division of UNMIL held at the Justice Ministry from April 19-20, 2005. the laws to be received include law of rape, law on jury and judicial financial autonomy. Chairman Bryant also raised concern about jurors who are illiterate and cannot understand the case but are entrusted with passing verdict on crucial matters.

For his part in his welcome statement, Cllr. Kabineh Janeh disclosed that at least 25 persons are being held for allegedly committing rape and are slated to face trial shortly.

Speaking earlier, UN secretary special representative Jacques Paul Klein promised UNMIL's support for the legislative reform, adding without proper legal framework civil liberties will be in danger.

While sitting in for the Chief Justice, Associate Justice Felecia Coleman called on government to put the money to make the judiciary autonomous in a special account t under the jurisdiction of the chief justice.

Concurring with the attorney general, justice Coleman labeled some jurors as permanent that go from one court to another for pecuniary benefit throughout all court sessions. The forum brought together lawyers, UNICEF representative in Liberia, the U. S. Embassy among others.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200504200176.html