Sinoe County Senator, Milton Teahjay, has broken his silence, stating that he has no vehicle belonging to Patricia Flomo, whom he claimed is an ex-fiancé of his brother, Patrick Teahjay, who lives in the United States. He accused Flomo of trying to criminally claim a vehicle sent by his brother from the US.
Speaking at a press conference Monday, November 15, 2021, Senator Teahjay clarified that when his brother, Patrick, and Patricia were separating, Patrick, who then had three cars, decided to give two of the cars to Patricia and keep one because he was on his way to get a new apartment. Senator Teahjay explained that when the winter was approaching, Patrick decided to purchase a bigger car, and could not keep the car he sent him because of insurance and other tags.
“When they were separating, Patrick told her to take two cars and all the things in the house. He made the decision to send the vehicle to me. I cleared the vehicle from the Freeport of Monrovia and has since been using it because it was sent as his property,” Senator Teahjay told newsmen.
He at the same time noted that, on the contrary, Patricia came into the country recently claiming that the car Patrick sent him belongs to her, so it should be given to her.
He further explained that Patricia Flomo took his complaint to his colleague, Senator Prince Y. Johnson: stating he had her car, and she wanted it. Teahjay also said Patricia made another representation to Cllr. Arthur Johnson to secure his legal services to take him to court, which he said took him by surprise, because the issue regarding the vehicle had never been a point of discussion between him and Patricia.
“I called my younger brother in the US before Cllr. Johnson and Patricia Flomo to point out who owns the vehicle. When the call was placed to Patrick, he said the car does not belong to Patricia—that it was sent to me,” the Senator further explained.
The Sinoe County Senator said that it was later, and surprisingly to him, that Patricia went to the Magisterial Court and filed a complaint that he has a car for her, but upon receiving the citation from the court he said he was not inclined to honor the citation because under Article 42 of the Constitution a Senator in session cannot be arrested, detained or prosecuted.
Article 42 says, “No member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall be arrested, detained, prosecuted or tried as a result of opinions expressed or votes cast in the exercise of the functions of his office. Members shall be privileged from arrest while attending, going to or returning from sessions of the Legislature, except for treason, felony or breach of the peace…”
According to him, seeing it as an error, Judge Jomah of the Magisterial Court instructed his clerk to withdraw the citation, saying it was sent to the Senator inadvertently.
He expounded that Patricia then proceeded to Judge Koiboi K. Nuta, Criminal Court “B”, to cite him in chambers, but the Senator said he informed the Judge that he was in session and could not sit in conference. He said a similar letter was written to Judge Nutah under the signature of his Chief of Staff (COS), that he is not inclined to sit for conference. He said he further alerted Judge Nuta to take keen interest not to repeat such a citation during the session period because he could be held in contempt by the Senate.
Senator Teahjay said because of Judge Nuta’s refusal to withdraw the citation, he is in consultation with his lawyers to reach out to him because nobody is above the Constitution.
The Senator said, “Judges are under obligation to be people who will interpret the law. Just as the Constitution protects judges, that you cannot hold them responsible for the judgment they handle on cases, the same Constitution tells the judges not to cite a lawmaker who is in session.”
It can be recalled that a Liberian female residing in the United States, Patricia Flomo, filed a formal complaint before Criminal Court “B” against Sinoe County Senator, Milton Teahjay, accusing him of deceitfully obtaining her vehicle and refusing to turn it over to her.
