By Emmanuel Mafelah,mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
The office of Bong County Electoral District #5 Representative Edward Karfiah has termed as false and baseless speculations of his involvement into the gruesome murder of the late Satta Banda in Gbartala, Yellequelleh District recently.
Satta Banda, age 17, a resident of Gbarnga in Electoral District #5 was late last year found dead in a pool of blood, after it was reported that she was with her friend attending a wake-keeping event in the community.
Since the mysterious death of the girl, rumors continue to circulate in different parts of the county that Representative Karfiah is aware of the killing.
Though the Coordinator of Representative Karfiah’s office, JD Kolleh is being allegedly linked to the killing of the girl in Gbartala, the Political Officer of the Lawmaker has told journalists that his boss is not in the know of the killing.
The County Attorney of Bong County, Jonathan N. Flomo told citizens recently that a teams of Pathologist from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were conducting a DNA Forensic Laboratory typing, in order to ascertain facts leading to the death of the late Satta Binda.
According to Lawyer Flomo, the teams of Pathologist arrived in the country on 29 May 2019 in Monrovia and was headed by FBI special agent Keeley Burgan, adding the FBI forensic Laboratory. It provides forensic analysis support services to the FBI, as well as to state and local law enforcement agencies free of charge. The lab is located at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia.
He said the investigations will cover a DNA profiling (also called DNA fingerprinting) the process of determining an individual’s DNA characteristics, which are as unique as fingerprints.
DNA profiling is a forensic technique in criminal investigations, comparing criminal suspects’ profiles to DNA evidence, so as to assess the likelihood of their involvement in the crime. It is also used in parentage testing, to establish immigration eligibility, and in genealogical and medical research.
The Bong County Chief Prosecutor, seven suspects in the case of the late Satta Binda specimen (fingerprints, Sperm etc.) was collected from the Liberian National Police Bong County Detachment and they includes; Clarence Davis, J D Kolleh, Amos Molon, Amos Sulonteh, Jerry Faisue, and Exodus Faisue and given to the Pathologist.
But Mr. Lawrence Flomo said at no point in time Representative Karfiah will get involved into ritualistic practices owing to his affiliation with Methodist Church something that is prohibited in the word of God.
He said reports linking Representative Karfiah to such an inhumane act is a complete fabrication only intended to dehumanize the high earned character of the Lawmaker.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the pending report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation pathologists relating to the late Satta Banda’s death, offices of Representatives Edward Karfiah, Josiah Marvin Cole, Senator Henry Yallah and office staff Lawrence Flomo presented $65,000 Liberian Dollars to the Gospel Campaigners for onward presentation to the bereaved families of the girl.
During the July 26 celebrations, the Gbartala Church of Christ and other churches under the banner of the Gospel Campaign to raise funds for the families of the late Satta to help fund some of their expenses in the legal proceedings.
Mr. Flomo told the citizens that the three Lawmakers being “kind-hearted”, saw the need to sympathize with the families though the money cannot bring back Satta Banda.
In appreciation of the gesture, the Minister of the Gbartala Church of Christ Pastor Moses B. Sackie thanked the lawmakers for the step taken along with Lawrence Flomo.