MONROVIA – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has raised serious concerns about the impartiality of the presiding judge in the ongoing criminal proceedings against Abdullai L. Kamara, ahead of the case’s scheduled hearing in the 2nd Judicial Circuit on January 12, 2026.
In a statement, LACC confirmed that while the motion to advance Kamara’s case on the trial docket was granted for 11:00 AM today, the Commission has filed a separate motion requesting that His Honor Joe S. Barkon recuse himself from further involvement in the matter.
“The Commission’s motion for recusal is grounded in multiple concerns that call into question judicial neutrality and the appearance of impartiality required in criminal proceedings,” the LACC said in a press release issued Monday.
Among the issues cited by LACC is the application of civil procedure in what is fundamentally a criminal matter. The Commission noted that the judge previously granted a motion to drop Kamara from an indictment by relying on a civil procedural provision rather than following established criminal procedure.
LACC further contends that the presiding judge dismissed the indictment entirely, rather than applying remedies clearly provided under the Criminal Procedure Law, a decision the Commission says was legally improper.
“The court allegedly disregarded statutory provisions that allow indictments to be amended to conform to the evidence,” LACC stated. “This option should have been considered instead of dismissing the indictment outright.”
The Commission also highlighted the unusual speed with which the motion to advance Kamara’s case was heard and granted, leaving limited time for the prosecution to adequately respond, a factor LACC argues undermines procedural fairness.
Adding to these concerns, LACC cited alleged conduct by the judge, who was reportedly seen socializing with defense counsel shortly after issuing a ruling favorable to the defendant. “These actions demonstrate bias or the reasonable perception of bias and undermine confidence in the court’s neutrality,” the Commission said.
According to LACC, allowing the presiding judge to continue handling the case risks prejudicing the State’s position and eroding public trust in the fair administration of justice. The Commission’s motion for recusal therefore seeks to ensure that the proceedings are conducted in strict adherence to legal standards and impartiality.
The Commission concluded by reaffirming its commitment to pursuing justice in the Kamara case while ensuring that all parties receive fair treatment under the law. “The integrity of the criminal justice process must be preserved, and public confidence in judicial proceedings maintained,” LACC emphasized.
