PHOTO: Suspect Joshua covering his face
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Police in the central Bong County have arrested, charged and sent to Criminal Court E at the 9th Judicial Circuit Court, a man identified as Joshua Brown 22, for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Gehyea Town, Suakoko District.
The girl is believed to be the Cousin of suspect Brown.
He was arrested following a complaint filed by a relative of the survivor, a press release from the county police disclosed in Gbarnga, nearly 200 kilometers east of Monrovia.
Although just reported, the incident is said to have occurred on Wednesday March 17, 2021 when suspect Brown allegedly raped the 12 years old minor, the police release added.
According to the police charge sheet, after the crime was allegedly committed, relatives of the survivor reported to the women and children protection section of the LNP that the girl was sexually abused by Brown.
The survivor told the police that her Cousin (suspect Brown) allegedly entered her room through the window and sexually abused her while at sleep.
“I was sleeping that night when I saw the person on top of me, took off my underclothe and starting forcing his nut in me. Trying to recognize the person, it was my own Cousin,” she told the Police.
“I told him to stop, but he took a cloth and place it in my mouth, and raped me.”
She said the suspect then threatened to hurt her if she ever told anyone about the incident.
Later, medical report revealed that the girl was tempered with. But defendant Brown has since denied the allegation terming it as “straight”.
Suspect Joshua Brown have therefore been charged and forwarded to court by the Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police, Bong County detachment for Statutory Rape in line with section 14.70 (a) and (b) of the penal code of Liberia.
The Police in a statement released on Friday, March 26, 2021 said: “The public can be assured of our commitment to protecting everyone while respecting their fundamental rights despite the prevailing challenges.
“We will always do our best in bringing perpetrators to account for their wrongs, but want the public to help us in this fight with meaningful information.”