By By: Staff Writer
Kakata, Margibi County – Two senior officials of Kakata Central Prison have reportedly lost their jobs over the controversial release of a pretrial drug detainee who walked out of custody in just three days for medical treatment.
Sources within the Ministry of Justice say former Prison Superintendent Maj. Nelson Owah and Deputy Superintendent Willie Zunugo were dismissed on Wednesday, July 8, following an internal review into the September 2024 release of Michael Brown.
Ministry authorities have not publicly confirmed the dismissals. Its public relations office told The Liberian Investigator the matter “remains under investigation.” An official dismissal letter has also not been made public.
The Case That Triggered It
Brown was committed to Kakata Central Prison on August 7, 2024 on charges of unlicensed possession of a controlled drug — a non-bailable offense under Liberian law. Court records show he was still a pretrial detainee at the time of his release.
The controversy centers on a September 19, 2024 letter from the prison administration to Judge T. Clapha Carey of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court.
The letter stated Brown fell ill on September 18 with chest pain and distress allegedly linked to injuries from a prior traffic accident on the Robertsfield Highway. After evaluation at C.H. Rennie Hospital, the letter said, doctors recommended treatment at a more advanced facility.
On that basis, the prison asked the court to allow one or two family members to take responsibility for Brown so he could seek treatment, with an assurance he would return to face justice.
Brown reportedly fell ill Wednesday, the request went to court Thursday, and by Friday he was released into family custody — a 72-hour turnaround now under intense scrutiny.
Legal Questions and a Signature
Investigators are examining two key issues: procedure and authority.
First, the signature. The letter was issued under Superintendent Owah’s name and office, but signed “PP” by Assistant Superintendent Zunugo. The ministry is reviewing whether Zunugo had formal authority to sign on the superintendent’s behalf.
Second, the law itself. Section 34.3 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law allows a prison superintendent to transfer an inmate to a hospital or another correctional facility when prison doctors cannot provide adequate care. Crucially, the law states the prisoner remains under prison custody during treatment and must be returned afterward.
Legal observers note the provision anticipates a medical transfer, not release into private custody. Whether Brown’s handover to family was backed by a lawful court order is now part of the probe.
Context: A Prison Under Pressure
The release came about a week after Kakata Central Prison suffered a major security breach. On September 8, 2024, nearly 50 inmates escaped. The Ministry of Justice launched an investigation into that jailbreak, but has not released findings.
Questions are also being raised about whether Brown was the only inmate with a serious medical condition at the time, and if similar requests were made for others.
What’s Next
The Liberian Investigator is seeking official comment from the Ministry of Justice, the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Judiciary on the reported dismissals, the legal basis for Brown’s release, and the status of the investigation.
For now, the Brown case has cost two prison bosses their jobs and put a spotlight on how Liberia handles medical emergencies for pretrial detainees — and who gets to sign the order to let them go.
Credit: The Liberian Investigator
