PHOTO: Suspected father rapist, Diven Ben outside the court
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE- Police in Monrovia have arrested, investigated, charged and sent to court a man, 51 and biological father of a 16-year-old girl for allegedly raping his own daughter.
Diven Ben, who appeared in the Monrovia City Court on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 and sent to prison, recently did the unimaginable thing of having sexual intercourse with his own daughter, her first time ever experiencing such.
The alleged act was committed on the Japan Freeway, formerly called Somalia Drive in the Monrovia suburb of Gardnersville.
Investigation conducted by Liberian National Police revealed that on Monday June 29,2020, mother of the rape survivor reported to the women and children protection section Central headquarters that on Sunday, June 28, 2020, her daughter reported to her that her biological father defendant Diven Ben has been sexually abusing her and had frequently sexually harassed her.
During an interview with the survivor, she narrated to the investigators that in May of 2019, her step mother Elizabeth Ben and her sister went to women fast and prayer, thereby leaving her and her other two sisters in the house.
The police further disclosed that about 11:48pm, defendant Ben came from work and opened the door for him and when he entered into the house, she entered in the room. Defendant Ben entered the room and held his daughter’s hands, pushed her on his bed and raped her by inserting his penis in her private part and later threatened her not to tell anyone about his incest behavior, adding that if she tells anyone, something will happen to her.
The survivor explained the unimaginable behavior of her biological father to her step mother, Elizabeth that her father has been raping her.
After telling her step mother Elizabeth Ben about the sexual abused melted against her by her father defendant Diven Ben, she said her step daughter was lying on her husband. But the rape survivor later informed her nephew and her Aunt.
The survivor told the investigators that her father has been harassing her by in red light to have sex with her since his wicked act was been noticed by members of his community but she refused.
For his part, the defendant and biological father of the survivor Diven Ben was arrested and aquatinted with his constitutional rights but categorically denied ever raping his own daughter but admitted that he was accused by the survivor that he sexually harassed her.
Investigation conducted by police reveals that the defendant categorically denied ever raping his daughter. But testimonies from the survivor and other witnesses, the following facts were gathered.
The investigation also established that that Defendant Ben is the biological father of the survivor and that the survivor complained to her step mother, Elizabeth Ben about the sexual abused carried out against her by her own father.
The copy of the medical report submitted by the complainant from the JDJ memorial hospital was dated June 29, 2020.
Result of the medical examination shows laceration at 3 and 9 and the survivor private part seen dilated with no discharge and survivor private part is seen with old deep laceration at 3 and 9:0 clock.
It said that the medical report is consistent with the allegation of rape and defendant has absolute supervision over the survivor.
After the sexual abuse, the survivor is said to have escaped from her father’s house.
“In view of the above facts established, coupled with the consistent allegation of rape melted against defendant Diven Ben by his daughter, the coronation and testimonies of some of the witnesses statement, crime scene visitation, findings of medical reports, the investigator has charged defendant Diven Ben with the commissioned of the crime of rape in violation of an Act to Amend the new penal code Chapter 14, section 14.70 and to provide for Gang rape approved December 29, A.D 2005 and published by Authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monrovia Liberia January 17,2006,” the court record says.
Section 14.70 of the new rape law of Liberia states that a person who has sexual intercourse with another person (male or female) has committed rape if:
(a)(I) He intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus, mouth or any opening of another person, (male or female) with his penis, without the victim’s consent.
(b). The victim is less than eighteen years old, provided the actor is eighteen years of age or older.
Meanwhile, Defendant Diven Ben has been sent to jail by the Monrovia City Court, awaiting court trial.