By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
The Liberia National police has investigated, Charged and sent Rep. Yekeh Kolubah driver, Alexander Sampson with four other defendants on Monday January 6, 2020.
Those who were arrested and charged during January 6 protest forwarded to court are Josiah Tarphen, (30) with his accomplices Aaron Kennedy, Emmanuel Johnson William O. Flomo, and Alexander Sampson.
Police have been criticized for using excessive force against last Monday’s protesters by firing teargas and water cannon on them, while pursuing them with whips in nearby neighbourhood on Capitol Hill in Monrovia.
According to Police investigation shows that on Monday January 6, 2020, at 4:30PM at the vicinity was a scene of abnormal activities when the protesters allegedly abused their constitutional rights and began to light coal pots on the main road, while gasoline was reportedly seen in a barrel just closed to where the charcoal pots were lighted.
The police investigation pointed out that their actions endangered the lives of the protesters, bystanders and major structures in the area.
According to the police charge sheet, commissioner Walter B. Wray (U-105) claimed on Monday January 6, 2020 at about 400 clock PM, while at Capitol Hill performing police duty, protesters intentionally assembled at the Capitol building and Executive Mansion corridors under the disguise of petitioning government of their concerns, but did not as expected by the general public and other foreign institutions monitoring the situation.
The police charge sheet further said that during the process of their assembly, the joint security mounted a check post at the intersection of UN Drive referred to as the Frederick corner for persons and vehicles attending the protest to be searched for the safety.
But, early 12:05 pm, special agent grade of Darius A. Davis called the joint security command post revealing and claiming that a convoy headed by Rep. Yekeh Kolubah with three vehicles plate number HOR-65 Toyota Rav4; ford pickup bearing plate number A619132 and an unlicensed plated blue KIA motor allegedly bulldozed the check post and went in the direction of the capital building and the Executive Mansion.
Earlier in the morning protesters had gathered in huge numbers to petition the Liberian Government about the harsh socioeconomic conditions in the country.
In swift , Commissioner Gray immediately informed the Deputy Inspector General of police for operations, Marvin Sackor who in turn approached the leadership of the Council of Patriots (COP) being accompanied by the representatives of the Independent Commission on Human Rights to inform them about the unruly behavior of Rep. Yekeh Kolubah and his supporters.
As a result of the alleged action of Rep. Kolubah and supporters that had caused the COP leadership and the officials of COP directed the police to do the search of the vehicles and the search went ahead as a result, a large number of COP supporters allegedly aborted the search and denied the joint security.
In order for the then tension to be relaxed, the joint security placed surveillance on the vehicle concerned.
The investigation findings reportedly discovered one 9MM pistol with serial number #DA-380425 PZ1550 was found in a light green Toyota RAV 4 with license plate #HOR-65 which is owned by Rep. Yekeh Kolubah of District #10.
“That 99MM pistol which bears the name High point was found in a white ford ranger with license plate #A619132 that was discovered from the protest scene,” police investigation claimed.
Two pistol were discovered, barrel of gasoline and cutlasses.
Meanwhile, the Liberia National police has charged four defendants mentioned above were charged with crimes recklessly endangering another person, rioting, failure to disperse and disorderly conduct in violations of Chapter 14 section 14.23 and Chapter 17 section 17.1 and 17.3 of the revised penal code pending court trial.
At the same time while Rep. Kolubah’s driver Alexander Sampson was charged with possession and sale of physical object for lethal use and rioting, failure to disperse this is in violation of chapter 17 section 17.11 and 17.1.