PHOTO: Pastor Nelson Paye (Right) being escorted by court officer
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The Monrovia City Court sent to the Monrovia Central Prison Pastor Nelson G. Paye, age 38, for allegedly trafficking a Liberian woman again to Oman.
He was incarcerated on Wednesday, April 21, 2022, after Liberia National Police investigated, charged and forwarded him to court.
Pastor Nelson G. Paye allegedly committed the act at Boys Town community, lower Margibi County with the crimes trafficking in person, theft of property and forgery pending court trial.
According to the police charge sheet, on April 6, 2022 suspect Paye was arrested, acquainted with his constitutional rights, investigated and duly charged with the commission of the crimes of trafficking in person and theft of property.
The police charge sheet disclosed that the defendant action is in violation of section 2 A and B and 15.51 of the new trafficking in person Act and the Penal Law of Liberia due to his involvement into recruiting of victim Linda Fasu Kerkula to oman who is currently in a state of slavery and human right.
It further indicated that Pastor Nelson Paye and Promise Nana Bangura (accomplice) recruited and transported victim Linda Fasu Kerkula to Oman, Asia, where she is currently bein ill-treated and allegedly rape. Other victims, Yamah and Miatta who did not go to Oman, were extorted by paying the amount of three hundred and fifty United States dollars (US$350) each.
Police investigative findings also noted that when victim Linda arrived in Oman, her passport was taken from her and that she was refused to work anymore due to intense condition of work and have asked to come back home. But her sponsor in in Oman is requesting that she pays back the amount of two thousand and eight hundred United States Dollars (2,800) before she is released to come back to Liberia.
“Suspect Pastor Nelson Paye along with Promise recruited and transported Linda to Oman, Asia in February 12, 2022. Defendant Pastor Paye was given US$350.00 each as processing fees for Linds, Miatta and Yamah which total US$1,100 from them” Police investigative finding unearth.
The police charged sheet noted that Complainant Emmanuel Kerkula told them that his wife victim Linda Fasu Kerkula was informed about the traveling and job program in Oman by her friend Promise Nana Bangura mother and the victim confirmed said information from Promise herself in Oman, Asia.
The complainant further told Police investigators that his wife was encouraged to fixed her documents and referred her to suspect Pastor Nelson Paye to facilitate her process. That she did and also paid the sum of three hundred and fifty United States dollars (US$350) to the Pastor as agent fees.
“Upon the completion and submission of my wife document, she departed Liberia for Oman February 12, 2022 through Ivory Coast and Ghana. Upon her arrival in Oman, she was received by another agent. My wife (Victim Linda) has been ill-treated and rape by her sponsor in Oman, Asia” he alleged during police investigation.
Excerpts of Co-complainant Mietta G. Browne, and Yamah P. Lawubah told police investigator that they got to know about the program through Mr. Emmanuel Kerkula, who took them to Pastor Paye and they paid the amount of three hundred and 350 US dollars each as agent fees to him.
“A visa and others relevant traveling document were sent to us from Promise Bangura and on March 31, 2022 while at Pastor Nelson Paye house preparing to be taken to the RIA the wife of Emmanuel called her sister in-law Bennitha. And he told her in tears not to come to Oman because she was being ill-treated by her sponsor. After listening to the conversation, i called my husband to pick me up and we left since than i have not made any contact with pastor Paye,” she informed police investigators.
Pastor Payes told police investigator that Emmanuel Kerkula wife victim Linda was recommended to him by Promise Nana Bangura, who asked him to helped process her travel document and of which he did.
He further admitted to police investigator that he received the from victim Linda the amount of three hundred and fifty united states dollars as agent fees and sent to Promise.
Suspect Pastor Paye also said that again Promise Nana Bangura asked him to Processed Yamah P. Lawubah and Miatta G. Brown and received from them the amount of US$700 and of which he did.
“Wherefore, and in view of the foregoing, the investigation has resolved to charge defendant Pastor Nelson Paye with the commission of crimes trafficking in person and theft of property which violates section 2, A and B of the new trafficking in person Act an amendment of the Penal Law of Liberia and chapter 15.51 of the Penal law of Liberia pending trial by court.”
Another man in court for human trafficking
At the same time, 31 years old man identified as Sawo King Zubah was on Tuesday April 19,2022 sent to court and later reminded at the Monrovia Central Prison for trafficking in person and forgery after police charged him.
Police charge sheet said defendant Zubah’s action violated Section 2 A&B and 15.70 of the new trafficking in person act and the penal law of Liberia due to his involvement into recruiting of Liberian female, Lisa Menhan to Oman. The woman is currently said to be in a state of slavery and gross human rights abuses same occurred in January 2022 by defendant Zubah and his cohort a lady to be identified who is residing in Oman, Asia based on complaint filed to the Liberia national police and its intervention.
According to the complainant, Stanley M. Kollie in January 2022, his wife Lisa Manhan was allegedly transported to Oman, Asia by defendants Zubah and a lady to be identified with the promise that would work and earn a worthy salary that would change her life.
The complainant added that defendant Zubah who lives in the same community with them told them that he had a traveling opportunity for his wife Lisa who currently resides in Oman, Asia.
He furthered said that Zubah asked her to process her passport and gave it to him (Zubah) who subsequently send the documents to a lady to be identified in Oman.
He concluded that she was made to pay US$250 to defendant Zubah prior to her departure to Oman.