PHOTO: L-R- Gifty Lama’s husband Sylvester, Police IG Sudue
By Garmah Never Lomo. garmahlomo@gmail.com
The lifeless bodies of two employees of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) employee, who were discovered in a vehicle in Monrovia last Friday, have been subjected to a Coroner examination Monday morning, as Liberian Police IG Patrick Sudue admits there was initial error on the crime scene.
This means that the crime scene was contaminated by not immediately establishing an exclusive perimeter for the investigators to do their job without public intrusion.
The two were discovered dead opposite the Secret Heart Cathedral Catholic Church and the vehicle is said to belong to Albert.
Legally, a Coroner is one who conduct an inquest or inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a death or deaths of individuals which is held in public and is usually summoned by warrant but may be summoned personally,.
The Coroner of Montserrado County, Abraham B. Rick on October 5, 2020 conducted an inquest on the corpses of the two LRA employees—Mr. Albert Peters and Mrs. Gifty Ashma Lama at the St. Moses Funeral Parlour in the Monrovia suburb of Gardnersville.
It is not known what the results of the inquest is, but information gathered at St. Moses Funeral Parlours said that the Coroner’s report has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice, which will lead to an autopsy, if need be.
Families of the two dead LTA workers at the St.Moses Funeral Parlours
The Coroner’s examination was done in the presence of both the husband of the female employee, Gifty, Mr. Sylvester Lama and the wife of Albert, Mrs. Beatrice Peters at the funeral parlours.
A source close to the government investigation says the results of Monday’s Coroner examination might be released to the public hopefully by the weekend.
Husband suspects foul play
The husband of the woman found dead, Former Montserrado County Development Superintendent Sylvester Lama has alleged that there was foul play in the death of his wife.
Mr. Lama dismissed rumors that he and his wife were on separation before her demise.
He said those spreading such rumors are from the belle of the devil.
According to Mr. Lama, he his wife had an agreement for her to move to the ELWA Junction in the Paynesville suburb of Monrovia with their children, in order to be on time at work, due to the location of where their property is situated in Moulton Corner community in Brewerville far away from Monrovia.
In an interview with Journalists at the St. Moses funeral Parlours on Monday, October 5, 2020, Mr. Lama said that on Thursday October 1, his wife and father had discussions for him to use her car. But at about 11am on the same day, her father called her mobile phone endless but there was no answer.
Mr. Lama explained that at about 7pm, his sister-in-law, Rebecca Ashma called him and said that they had also been calling his wife but no answer and he needed to come for all of them to go in search of her.
That he said he did, chartering a commercial taxi from Brewerville and began searching for her.
Narrating further, the husband of the late Gifty said they visited various health facilities including JFK and the police headquarters to inquire whether there was any accident case reported to them. But to their dismay, nothing of such was discovered.
At 2 am on Friday, his sister-in-law tried Mrs. Gifty Lama’s Lone Star number, which was answered by an unidentified male, who told his sister-in- law that Gifty will be seen in a vehicle on Friday, October 2, 2020.
Then when the news broke out on the discovery of the two early Friday morning, he immediately rushed on the scene, where his wife (Gifty) and Mr. Peters were found dead in a parked vehicle. But Mr. Lama explained that they were prevented from viewing the bodies both on the crime scene and at JFK Medical Center in Sinkor.
Mr. Albert K. Peters was the deputy commissioner for audit at the LRA, while Gifty Ashma Lama was a research analyst and serving as acting Manager for taxation at LRA.
Circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two LRA employees remain mysterious and many are speculating that they may have allegedly been murdered for reasons yet unknown.
Initial error on crime scene
Meanwhile, the Liberia National Police Inspector General, Patrick Sudue told Journalists on Monday that the LNP has launched a major investigation into the deaths of the two LRA employees.
At a news conference at it police headquarters, the Police chief said that several persons of interest have been undergoing investigation, including a security officer who was on guard prior to the incident.
According IG Sudue, no stone will be left unturned into circumstances surrounding the deaths of the pair.
He also admitted that there were errors made by police officers who responded and went to the crime scene. But Colonel Sudue justified that it was harmless errors and admitted that the Police are on verge of getting the call logs of the deceased from the two GSM companies.