Monrovia, Liberia- Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has proposed a bill to amend the Criminal Procedures Law of Liberia aim at extending the time allowed for prosecuting non-capital offenses, particularly targeting corruption, economic sabotage, and abuse of public resources.
The bill seeks to amend Chapter 4, Sections 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of the Criminal Procedures Law, Title II of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised
The instrument was introduced to the Liberian Senate to tackle the issue of unprosecuted cases involving public officials due to restrictive time limitations.
Under the existing law, the prosecution period for non-capital offenses is five years for felonies and three years for misdemeanors, as outlined in Chapter 4, Sections 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of the Criminal Procedures Law.
According to Senator Dillon, this limitation has hindered the government’s ability to pursue cases of waste and abuse involving public officials, as successive governments have often delayed prosecutions due to political reluctance or lack of resources, resulting in a culture of impunity.
Key amendments in the bill include extending the prosecution period for felonies from five to seven years after the crime was committed or discovered.
For serious offenses related to corruption, economic sabotage, human trafficking, and drug trafficking, the bill allows prosecution up to 15 years after the offense is committed or discovered.
For misdemeanors, the amendment when passed will increase the prosecution period from three to five years, while offenses classified as minor violations now will have a three-year time limit.
The amendment further revises Section 4.4, allowing prosecutions for misconduct by public officials at any time during their tenure or within seven years after leaving office.
The bill in section 4.3 proposes removing the existing clause that allowed an additional two years to prosecute cases of fraud and fiduciary breaches after the discovery of the offense.
Senator Dillon argues that these reforms will help deter abuse of office and misuse of public resources, especially by high-ranking officials.
By closing loopholes and extending the time limits, he hopes to reduce impunity and foster a more accountable governance system in Liberia.
The bill was read on the Senate floor constituting its first Reading.
