CONFIDENTIAL
C
D
cannot be given that a recommendation would be made in the
appropriate quarters against imposition or execution of the
death penalty.
5. Since we are aware, that, prior to the coup in Liberia in 1979, the Liberian courts were notoriously corrupt and that the death sentence is technically mandatory in Liberia for persons convicted of murder, the Governor has rightly asked us to look into these questions before he is required to make
any order to surrender Lam.
6. The advice we have obtained so far from our Embassy at Monrovia is that the present standards of justice in Liberia are, in the Ambassador's view, generally satisfactory. The Post have added that the present Minister of Justice is keenly interested in the prison system and has personally visited each prison to check on conditions. On the matter of Lam's likely sentence should he be convicted, the Post's view is that it is very unlikely that the death sentence, although mandatory for murder, would be carried out.
7.
Following a recent telegram from Hong Kong expressing concern about the Liberian authorities' handling of a similar case which occurred in 1979 and which resulted in the person surrendered being sentenced to death, granted an amnesty
and subsequently being re-arrested before being finally released, we have sent a further telegram to Monrovia (copy attached) asking them to seek appropriate assurances from the Liberian authorities
about the standards of administration of Lam's trial and his likely sentence should he be convicted. We await a reply.
fall from
T
F H Brown
Nationality and Treaty Dept.
17 December 1982
PS/Mr Rifkind HK & GD
Mr Hill, Legal Advisers
WAD