Monrovia, Sept. 4 -- Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor appeared before the Monrovia City Court on Friday as prosecutors began presenting evidence in the preliminary hearing of the criminal case against her.

Howard-Taylor, who is facing charges including drug trafficking and money laundering, had petitioned the court to compel prosecutors to provide her defense team with evidence they intend to use in the case ahead of the preliminary proceedings.

However, the Monrovia City Court denied the request, ruling that the purpose of the preliminary hearing is to determine whether the prosecution has established probable cause for the case to proceed, rather than to determine Howard-Taylor's guilt or innocence.

Defense lawyers argued th...