Barclayville, Grand Kru County– The Barclayville City Magisterial Court did not order the transfer of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Clement Barlatt, despite claims in a media report.
Court documents in Case No. 25 confirm that Stipendiary Magistrate Boniface Toe Tweh issued a Writ of Arrest on April 28, directing the court sheriff to arrest and bring Barlatt before the court to answer to a charge of criminal coercion.
The writ strictly orders his appearance and contains no instruction for transfer. Under Liberia’s legal structure, a magistrate cannot transfer a police officer.
The Liberia National Police falls under the Executive Branch through the Ministry of Justice, and only the Inspector General of Police or the Minister of Justice has authority over personnel transfers. Such decisions affect duty post, rank, pay and command structure, and are governed by the LNP Act of 2015, Civil Service Standing Orders and internal police regulations.
Legal experts say while a court may request cooperation or recommend action, it cannot enforce administrative decisions within the police, in keeping with the separation of powers under Article 3 of the 1986 Constitution.
The case stems from a public dispute between Grand Kru County Administrator Alphonso Teah and ACP Clement Barlatt, which escalated into legal action.
In a radio interview on Ahteenah Radio, Barlatt accused Teah of coercing residents of the Dougbo Community to file false complaints against him at the police headquarters in Monrovia.
He also alleged that the county administrator was involved in the sale of a police vehicle, a company container, and scrap materials within the county.
Barlatt claimed the disputed police vehicle broke down in 2023 during the administration of former President George Weah and was left in the Dougbo area. According to him, attempts were later made to remove and sell the vehicle, a move he resisted after consulting his superiors.
He further alleged that the vehicle was eventually retrieved from a buyer after police intervention.
The police commander also accused Teah of misrepresenting the status of the vehicle to the General Services Agency, claiming it had been abandoned an assertion he rejected.
For his part, Teah filed a complaint accusing Barlatt of defamation of character, citing the officer’s public allegations that he was involved in the sale of government and private property.
Teah maintains that his complaint was triggered by what he described as damaging and unsubstantiated claims made against him.
The writ of arrest now before the court is based on allegations that Barlatt’s statements constitute criminal coercion under Liberia’s Penal Law.
Despite the escalating dispute and counter-accusations, the court’s role remains limited to adjudicating the criminal complaint and ensuring the accused appears.
Any decision regarding ACP Barlatt’s reassignment or transfer rests solely with the leadership of the police through the Executive Branch not the court.
