Liberia's former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor will receive medical care at her residence under court-imposed restrictions as her drug trafficking case continues.
Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has been moved from Monrovia Central Prison to her residence under house arrest and travel restrictions. Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman F. Feika issued the order on compassionate medical grounds, allowing Howard-Taylor to receive care outside of detention. The court emphasized that this release does not signify an acquittal or termination of the ongoing criminal proceedings against her.
Howard-Taylor faces multiple charges, including importation and unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs, money laundering, and conspiracy, related to an alleged transnational cocaine-trafficking operation. Her legal team had raised concerns about her health, prompting the request for medical attention outside of jail. The court mandated that she surrender all travel documents and will be subject to limitations on visitors, with only a designated family member and her physician permitted access.
The ruling requires Howard-Taylor to remain at her Tubman Boulevard residence until the conclusion of her criminal case, unless the court modifies the order. The government is to provide 24-hour security at the residence and maintain visitor logs. A caregiver, preferably a family member, must reside with her and cannot be replaced without court approval. Approved hospital appointments and medical visits are the only exceptions to her confinement.
Why it mattersFormer Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor is affected by the court's decision to place her under house arrest and restrict her movements due to ongoing drug trafficking charges.
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