Liberia: Criminal Court “B” Releases Jerry Wrato on Habeas Corpus

Court action comes hours after Police IG Coleman rejected VP Koung’s plea for Wrato’s release and moved to prosecute him on four cybercrime charges

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By: Willie N. Tokpah

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Monrovia-Criminal Court “B” of the First Judicial Circuit has released Jerry Nyantee Wrato from police custody following a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by his legal counsel, Cllr. Garrison Doldeh Yealue Jr.

The release came Tuesday, September 22, after Judge Pape Suah issued a writ directing that Wrato be released from further police custody and turned over to the Sheriff of the court.

The development marks a significant turn in the case, coming only hours after Liberia’s Police Inspector General, Gregory O. W. Coleman, rejected Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung’s appeal for Wrato’s release and confirmed that police had concluded their investigation and were preparing to prosecute him on four alleged cybercrime offenses.

Court Orders Release
The writ issued by Criminal Court “B” commanded authorities to release Wrato from further custody and bring him before the court pursuant to his habeas corpus petition.

The court directed that the relevant parties appear before it at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and warned that failure to comply with the order could result in contempt of court.

Following the court’s action, Wrato was released from police custody.

The petition named as respondents the Minister of Justice, Deputy and Assistant Ministers of Justice, the Montserrado County Attorney and his deputies, Police Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman, the Crime Service Department and other officers or persons having custody of Wrato, among others.

The petition relied on Article 21(f) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia and provisions of the Civil Procedure Law governing habeas corpus proceedings.

The writ was signed and sealed by Amos W. Cummings, Clerk of Criminal Court “B,” on September 22, 2026.

Police Had Announced Four Charges
The court-ordered release came after the LNP announced its decision to proceed against Wrato on four alleged violations of Liberia’s Cybercrime Act of 2025.

In a September 21 communication to Vice President Koung, Inspector General Coleman said police had resolved to charge Wrato with Misuse of Devices, Cyberstalking, Distribution of Data Messages That Incite Damage to Property or Violence, and Distribution of Harmful Data Messages.

The police identified the alleged offenses under Sections 10.1, 15.1, 18.1 and 19.1 of the Cybercrime Act.

Coleman’s communication followed a telephone conversation with Vice President Koung and the Vice President’s subsequent public appeal for Wrato’s release.

According to the Police Inspector General, once suspected criminal conduct comes to the attention of law enforcement, the matter cannot be determined solely by the wishes of the individual allegedly affected.

Coleman said the LNP had a statutory responsibility to investigate the allegations objectively and act in accordance with the law.

He also emphasized that forwarding Wrato to court would not constitute a determination of guilt and that the suspect remained entitled to the presumption of innocence and other constitutional protections.

Wrato Case Linked to AI-Generated Content
Wrato’s arrest followed the circulation of artificial intelligence-generated images and videos appearing to depict Vice President Koung in a derogatory manner.

The content surfaced amid controversy surrounding reports about Koung’s security screening at Brussels Airport, which the Vice President has denied.

The police subsequently investigated the circulation of the manipulated material under Liberia’s recently enacted Cybercrime Act.

Koung later appealed publicly for Wrato’s release, indicating that he did not wish to pursue criminal action against him over the material.

Despite the Vice President’s position, Coleman maintained that the police had an independent statutory duty to investigate suspected criminal conduct.

Habeas Corpus Leads to Release

The habeas corpus proceedings subsequently brought Wrato’s detention before Criminal Court “B.”

The court’s writ specifically directed that he be “immediately released from further custody” and turned over to the Sheriff of the court.

The subsequent release means Wrato is no longer being held in police custody pursuant to the detention challenged in the habeas corpus petition.

The court’s action, however, does not by itself constitute a determination on the underlying allegations contained in the police investigation.

The police had maintained that Wrato was to face criminal charges, while his legal counsel challenged his continued detention through habeas corpus.
Wrato remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.