Man ,19, Under Police Investigation
PHOTO: Suspect John Mulbah undergoing police investigation
By Tokpa Tarnue- tarnue82@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia- Police in Salayea district, Lofa County are currently investigating a 19-year-old man identified as John Mulbah for allegedly raping a girl child, age 8, one of few cases in just weeks.
According to the mother of the 8-year-old girl, suspect Mulbah allegedly abused her daughter on March 8, 2023 in Gbansu village, Salayea district.
Back in September 202o, rape in Liberia was declared a national emergency by President George Manneh Weah.
According to global data from UN Women, rape and sexual violence against women and girls has been on the increase in Liberia in recent years.
“Lifetime Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence :49.3 % (1)
Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in the last 12 months : 34.8 % (2)
Lifetime Non-Partner Sexual Violence : Official National Statistics Not Available
Child Marriage :35.9 % (3) Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting :44.4 % (4)” Liberia (unwomen.org)
During investigation by the Liberia Nation Police Women and Children Protection Service with victim in the presen of her parents, the child mother Kebeh Barquelleh said that her daughter complained to her that suspect John Mulbah had sex with her while they were in bed.
Both the rape survivor and her mother further told the investigation that, all of them lived in the same house with one Yamah Tokpa age 27 and a relative to the survivor’s mother who they said is in a love affair with the accused John Mulbah.
Police investigation further established that Yamah and the survivor slept in the same room while the mother of the victim was in another room but also in the same house.
Meanwhile, the accused has told Police investigation that, he went to a party and came home by 1Am Liberian time under the influence of alcohol.
According to him, he entered the room and lay beside his 27 years old girlfriend Yamah Tokpa who happened to be a relative to the victim.
“After some time, I just saw myself on top of the victim while the victim was crying, this is how I got up and put the light on only to notice that my girlfriend was still sleeping and I saw the victim going out of the room. But I really never had sex with the victim,” defendant Mulbah explained.
The 8-year-old rape survivor was later taken to the Salayea Health Center for medical examination and treatment, while the accused, John Mulbah is undergoing Police investigation after which he is expected to be charged and sent to court for allegedly committing the crime of rape.