By, Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Four soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), including Sgt. Keita Musa and Cpl. Jugbe Peter have been dishonourably discharged from the army for violating Military Regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The Ministry of National Defense through the Armed Forces of Liberia has over the weekend completed the investigation these personnel of the AFL. The other two, ffc Kollie Dennis and Pfc Konneh Benjamin will be subjected to tough military discipline.
The soldiers recently went amock in the central city of Gbarnga, stripping naked and parading a man in the main streets for allegedly stealing the motorbike belonging to one of the soldiers. Big crowd watched as they humiliated the man.
Their brute action triggered outrage among residents of Bong County and across Liberia, reminding many about the once dreaded AFL of the 1990s.
On Saturday February 22, 2020, a citizens of Totota was allegedly made to walk naked in major streets of Gbarnga by these AFL personnel led by Staff Sargent Kieta Musa.
The victim is the Chief of Operation for the Bong County Commercial motorcycle union, Totota chapter.
He was asked to walk alongside his colleagues to lunch an investigation into a missing motorbike belonging to a resident of Totota as head of operations.
While investigating, officers of the AFL were given an alert and they quickly made their way to the area (Totota) to assist residents of the area retrieve the missing bike.
On their way back to Gbarnga, they asked the victim to accompany them to Gbarnga, in order to get to the bottom of the matter.
When they got to Gbarnga according to eyes witnesses, the victim was asked to take off his entire clothes and walk in the streets of Gbarnga, if not he was going to be shouted.
Not leaving with any other option he did as he was told.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday March 7, 2020 in Gbarnga, the Acting Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and Anthony at law, Major Thomas P. Bombo said the investigation report held Sergeant Keita Musa and Cpl. Jugbe Peter liable for violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice; Article: 92. They failed to Obey Order or Regulations and General Article: 93 Cruety and maltreatment Article: 128 Assault.
Major Bombo continued: “Today am here to inform you that in keeping with our military justice proceedings, the following decisions and actions have been taken by the Chief of Staff of the AFL.”
Segt Keita Musa and Cpl Jugbe Peter are hereby administratively discharge from the Armed Forces of Liberia, in accordance with the new National Defense Act of 2008 section 7.7 (j) for the conduct not in keeping with AFL standers. And also for their conduct, which contravenes the constitution of the republic of Liberia, the AFL Judge Advocate General said.
The military police was therefore ordered to escorts both of the soldiers to their respective accommodations to collect their personal belongings and escort them through the gate of the Camp Tubman Military Barracks.
For Pfc Kollie Dennis and Pfc Konneh Benjamin, they will go through field grade non judicial punishment, in keeping with Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And an appropriate punishment will be imposed for violating Article 77: Aiding and Abetting and Article 92: Failure to obey order or regulations of the UCMJ.
The AFL as a force for good remains committed to the respect for the rule of law. The AFL will not tolerate any acts that will bring discredit to the institution.
“The AFL Chief of Staff wants to assure the people of Bong County that any AFL personnel caught breaking the law will be dealt with in keeping with the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
For his part, the Chief of Public Affairs of the AFL, Major El-dorado Jebboe is cautioning personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia to use their respective positions with prudence and avoid acts that will cast aspersion on the image of the Armed Forces of Liberia and the Ministry of National Defense.
Major Jebboe has said that the Armed Forces of Liberia will continue to exhibit good morals and professionalism in the execution of its national obligations; stressing that the AFL will not compromise on acts that may undermine the image of the military as a “Force for Good.”
Commenting on the ruling, Bong County Superintendent Esther Y. Walker extended Commendations to the AFL for the speedy investigation and promised to file a lawsuit against Musa and colleagues.
“I am working with my lawyer to file this lawsuit on Monday for disgracing this brother.I can assure you that as I am the eye of President Dr. George Manneh Weah in this county, Keita and colleagues will not go free.
The Weah-led government doesn’t supports lawlessness. We don’t tolerate violence, so what Keita and colleagues did to our brother will face the consequences.
They will never go unpunished while I’m serving as Superintendent of this county,” Superintendent Walker added.
Samuel Elliot, President of the Bong County Chapter of the Liberia Motor Transport Union welcomed the report and called on citizens of the County to remain calm.