PHOTO: Man who attempted setting himself ablaze rescued by Court officers
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- Self-emulation is become a practice on the grounds of the Temple of Justice, the seat of the Liberian Judiciary, with the second incident of such occurring in many months.
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 was another scene to witness here, where another Archie Ponpon scene was played out, as a man identified as Lincoln Tweh sprayed petrol on himself and attempted setting himself ablaze.
His reason? Lincoln claimed that his L$54,000.00 and USD $360 were taken away from him by an officer of the anti-robbery unity of the Liberia National Policeonly identified as Sunnyboy. He alleged that the incident happened after the officer got suspicious of the huge amount of money.
Lincoln Tweh after his failed attempt
In November 2020, Archie Ponpon, a staffer at the Liberian Judiciary set himself ablaze earlier today, Monday in protest against what he said was his “illegal suspension” from work indefinitely.
Archie, who poured gasoline on himself, is in very critical condition at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, where he was immediately rushed after his self-inflicted serious burn. As the fire blazed, Court officers used water from the Coronavirus bucket to put off the fire.
Lincoln did not just wasted the gas on himself alone but also on court officers so that all of them could burn along with him, while rescuing him.
The man, who had gone to the court to complain about his case, was seen splashing a mineral bottle filled with gasoline on himself, but was unable to successfully set himself ablaze, when he was rescued and then handcuffed by court officers. He was later taken to the police headquarters where the matter is being investigated.
According to Police spokesman, Moses Carter, the incident occurred on Monday night between 9-10pm on November 14, 2021 when the complainant Lincoln Tweh was seen exchanging some Liberian dollars to United States dollars on Center and Benson Street’s intersection. It was at that time that a man identified as Tony Blad got suspicious on ground that he knows Lincoln Tweh to have a criminal record.
Police Spokesman Carter
The Police Spokesman said when Tony Blad got suspicious of the huge amount of money in plastic bag, he took it from the complainant, Tweh and carried it to an unfinished building on Center Street.
But he later went to an officer of the anti-robbery and the money was reported to the police headquarters to establish its source and authenticate the information the complainant provided.
Tony Blad was ordered detained by Rafell Wilson, while the investigation is ongoing and he he is still in detention at the police headquarters.
The complainant informed police that he got his money from his susu or saving club. He explained that there are 51 persons in the susu club amd every week, they put L$5,000 and one person draws that amount.
Furthemore, the anti-robbery officer is said to have turned the money over to the Criminal Investigation officer identified as Rafell Wilson to properly investigate the matter, when the complainant threatened to go on court to set himself ablaze.
The burden of proof lies on the accuser and in so doing, the complainant was asked by police investigators to bring leaders of the susu club on Tuesday, November 16,2021, something he did. But he said those he claimed to be leaders of susu didn’t bring identities to authenticate what he said.
Meanwhile, police spokesman Moses Carter has said as soon as the source of the money is known, the Police will turn over the money to the owner.