Nimba County District #5 Representative, Samuel Kogar, has been dealt a legal blow in his ongoing divorce battle. The Supreme Court of Liberia has ordered him to pay his ex-wife, Romatta Yoada Kogar, the full alimony amount of US$1,000.00, and not just moving forward, but retroactively from the last payment he made.
For those unfamiliar with legal terms, alimony (also called spousal support) is money that one spouse is required to pay the other after a divorce. It’s meant to ensure that the lower-earning spouse can still maintain a reasonable standard of living after the separation.
What Went Wrong for Rep. Kogar?
At the lower court level, the lawmaker had managed to get his alimony payments reduced from US$1,000 to just US$200, a major cut. But the Supreme Court found that the lower court made a serious legal error by reducing the amount without a proper hearing. The judge reportedly made the decision based on a sheriff’s report instead of listening to arguments from both sides. That didn’t sit well with the higher court.
Kogar’s Attempt to Reduce the Payment
Through his legal team, Kogar had filed a request to permanently lower his alimony payments. His argument? That he couldn’t afford to keep paying the original amount. However, the Supreme Court’s latest decision completely overturned that reduction, meaning Kogar must stick to the original order of US$1,000 monthly.
What’s Next?
Kogar has few options left, he must comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling and settle his outstanding payments. This case also serves as a reminder that legal shortcuts won’t always work, especially when it comes to financial obligations in divorce cases.
Do you think alimony laws in Liberia are fair? Should spouses always be required to maintain their ex’s lifestyle after divorce? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Spoon TV
Discover more from Geez Liberia
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
