Monrovia, Liberia — A major legal setback has hit state prosecutors after Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice dismissed the indictment against former National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) Chief Executive Officer, Rustolyn Suacoco Dennis, and her co-defendant, Richman Jallah.
The ruling, delivered on March 17, 2026, by Assigned Circuit Judge Ousman F. Feika, centered on what the court described as a clear violation of the defendants’ constitutional rights due to the prosecution’s failure to proceed with trial within the timeframe required by law.
According to the court, the defendants had earlier filed an eight-count motion to dismiss on February 9, 2026, accusing the state of “failing, neglecting, and refusing” to take the necessary steps to bring the matter to trial. They pointed out that two successive terms of court had elapsed without any movement in the case, an action deemed inconsistent with Chapter 18, Section 18.2 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law.
The defense further argued that the prolonged delay was not just procedural but deeply personal in its impact. The unresolved indictment reportedly imposed restrictions on their ability to travel, limiting access to medical care, business engagements, and family responsibilities abroad. These conditions, they maintained, undermined their constitutional rights, including freedom of movement and the presumption of innocence.
In response, state prosecutors admitted that the case had not commenced within the statutory period. However, they attempted to deflect responsibility, arguing that the defendants themselves failed to take steps to have the matter placed on the trial docket or formally assigned. The prosecution also cited the court’s heavy caseload, particularly drug-related and theft cases, as a contributing factor to the delay.
Prosecutors further contended that dismissing the indictment would not prevent the state from re-indicting the defendants in the future, suggesting that the relief sought was not final.
But Judge Feika was not convinced. In his ruling, he emphasized that the prosecution failed to provide any legally sufficient justification for the delay.
“Having met the requirement of the law and the respondent not having shown legally sufficient reasons why the motion should not be granted,” the judge ruled, granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss.
The dismissal was issued without prejudice, meaning the government still retains the legal option to refile the charges. However, for now, the court has ordered that both defendants be discharged from the indictment and that their full constitutional rights be restored.
The decision marks a significant development in a case that has drawn public attention, raising broader questions about prosecutorial efficiency, due process, and the protection of constitutional rights within Liberia’s justice system.
