PHOTO: Mob violence suspects being escorted by Police–in the Yellow and White T-shirts are defendants Triple 2 and shadow
By King Sarwah Brown, sarwahking@gmail.com
BUCHANAN, Liberia–The Liberia National Police (LNP) here in Grand Bassa County’s Capital have arrested, charged and sent to the Magisterial Circuit Court four suspects linked to last weekend’s destruction of properties during the mob violence revenge attack in New Buchanan Community.
In the rioting, a private home was set ablaze along with a vehicle by group of angry mob led commercial motorcylists, revenging the alleged stabbing of motorcycle rider by a notorious criminal identified as Seth Koosono, alias “Triple 2”.
After the stabbing, the house belonging to the parents of “Triple 2” was burnt to ashes along with a vehicle near their home.
According to the Crimes Services Commander of the LNP in the county, James Papa Yekeku, the incident occurred on Friday July 2, 2021 when suspect “Triple 2” allegedly stabbed a motorcycle rider Trokon Neor, which provoked angry Motorcyclists and were seen on motorbikes from one point to another for more than 6 hours in search of “Triple 2.
In the red and white T-shirts are defendants Victor Joe and Obey Peters.
The Police Commander said “Triple 2” is in the constant habit of harming peaceful citizens in order to take away their belongings. But, after their search of “Triple 2” failed they have no other choice but to allegedly set ablaze the home of his parents.
The local Police Commander disclosed that the four suspects were arrested in different locations after they (LNP) received information from reliable sources.
Local Police Commander James Papa Yekeku
Those forwarded to court on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 were defendants Victor Joe alias “Fat Joe” age 31, and Obey Peters age 21. The notorious criminals who were also sent to court were Seth Koosono alias “Triple 2” age 22 and Relia Knuckles alias “Shadow” age 24.
Police charge sheet said defendants Victor R. Joe and Obey Peters were arrested, investigated and charged with the crimes of “Arson section 15.1”, Criminal Mischief and criminal attempt to commit murder section 10.2, and 25.5 of the new penal laws. Also, the Police charged Seth Koosono and Relia Knuckles with the crimes of aggravated assault and criminal attempt to commit murder which they said is in violation of section 10.1 and 14.20 of the new penal laws of Liberia.
Defendants Victor Joe and Obey Peters were charged because of their involvement into intentionally moving on the premises of a 38 years old complainant, Anthony Koosono , and burned down his three bedrooms house value $11,500USD attached with a provision shop worth $560USD, a burned car “Mazda 626” cost $4,500USD including his physical cash in the tone of $16,000USD and $250,000 LRD.
Local Police Commander
Other are: the national Fire service truck that went on the scene to quench the fire damaged windshield cost $2,550USD. But defendants Joe and Peters have denied all the allegations levied against them by Mr. Anthony Koosono Father of Triple 2, stating that they have no knowledge about burning down his house, car among others.
While defendants Seth Koosono popular known as “Triple 2” and Relia Knuckles known as” shadow” were charged because they knowingly took substantial step by using a deadly weapon (knife) with the attempt to kill the motorcycle rider Trokon Neor age 23, which resulted to him sustaining several bodily injuries in the eye and behind the leg but the accused denied the allegation of using sharp object to stab the motorcycle rider Trokon Neor. He mentioned that he used his punched to wound the victim.
During deliberation, Complainant Anthony Koosono father of “Tripe 2” told Police investigators that on Friday, July 2, 2021, while at his residence, he saw a large number of disenchanted motorcyclists headed by defendants Victor Joe, Obey Peters and one mechanic to be identified came and asked him for his son “Triple 2” and he told them that his son “Triple 2” real name Seth Koosono was not living in his house anymore.
Mr. Anthony Koosono told investigators that defendants Joe and other aggrieved motorcyclists threatened if they did not see he “Triple 2” his son who they said allegedly stabbed their friend, they will come back and burned his house, they left and Later came in large number and set his car and three bedrooms house containing 11by 12 provision shop on fire and when he called the fire service tuck to quench the fire, defendant victor Joe and others upon seeing the Fire truck damaged it windshield.
He further told police investigators “that On July 2, 2021while at my residence, I saw a large number of motorcyclists headed by Victor Joe, Obey Peter and one Mechanic to be identified came at my house and asked for triple 2 my son and I told them that he was not living here anymore. Victor Joe said if we don’t see “Triple 2” we will come back and burn this entire house, they left.
Later, in another large number, they came and burned my car and the entire three bedrooms house containing a 11by 12 provision shop to dust axe, I tried to called fire service for help and the truck came but victor Joe and Mechanic the group stop and broke the truck windshield and the truck left immediately I too left the burned house and reported the matter to police for probe”. In connection to the burning house by angry motorcyclists headed by Victor Joe and Obey Peters: burned house value $11,500USD, value of provision shop attached to the burned house $560USD, burned my car value$4,500USD, physical cash of $16000USD and 250,000LRD along with the fire service truck damaged windshield – government own truck”.
However, defendant Victor Joe told LNP during their preliminary investigation that Friday, July 2, 2021, that he (defendant Victor Joe) was informed by victim Trokon Neor his motorbike rider that Seth Koosono and others beat on him and was bleeding profusely when suspect Seth Koosono “Triple 2” and Relia Knuckles “Shadow” both got on the bike leaving the victim there.
The Liberia National Police (LNP) recently warned alleged motorbike thieves taking away innocent citizens’ motorbikes and money under dubious means to desist from such acts or face the full weight of the law.
Police Spokesman Moses Carter in recent times explains that from time to time some of the hijackers pretend as though they are passengers, get on the bike and direct the bike operator to wherever they are going and once they arrive, the operator is threatened with deadly weapons and the bike is taken away and sometimes goes with impunity.
Defendant Joe told the police that the victim (Trokon Neor) told him that he went to the police station and complained “Triple 2” who he alleged is in the constant habit of harming peaceful citizens in order to take away their belonging but he was advised by officers of the Liberia National Police Grand Bassa Division to go and treat his wounds which made them felt disappointed in the Police.
Thereafter, he defendant ( Victor Joe) took about five motorcyclists to search but they did not see he “Triple 2” and scattered the group of motorcyclists and he ( Victor Joe) later went to work at the Perfect Bar entertainment Center but while at Job he was arrested and detained at the police headquarters in Buchanan.
He further told police investigators:
“I received a cell phone call from Trokon Neor, my bike rider that he was severely beaten by Seth Koonsono popular known as “triple 2” and other criminals and bleeding. Immediately I came at the fairground police station, the police told my rider to go and treat himself and he told me that he my ride knew where triple 2 was. I than asked police officer Debba to go with us to arrest triple 2 but he said he was tire with his business and then I went with five motorcyclists to look for him triple 2 at fairground graveyard where he escaped, we moved on to Lewisa Hotel old building, Sugar Cane Farm graveyard, Atlantic Street, Kordual gravesite and new Buchanan Block “A” play boy block factory and we did not see him triple 2. I came back to the police station fairground and told Debba, Gono and others Police officers that were there and told them that I did not see triple 2 and I was going t work at Perfect Bar. While I was at my work place I heard that triple 2 father’s house was on fire by some unknown motorcyclists and on July 3, 2021 I was accused and arrested by police that I burned the house which is a black lie.”
During investigation by the police criminal Service division (CSD) of defendant Obey Peters age 21, he too denied and stated “On Saturday while I was on traffic with one of my friend called Jay motion motorbike; I got arrested by the police and brought straight to the fairground police station. When we reached the police asked me about the riot that took place between the motorbike riders and the grona boys. But I don’t know anything about it because I was not on traffic that Friday when the incident occurred. I was all the way in Tay’s Town picking up rocks to sell to sustain myself”.
Meanwhile, the Police investigators reached the conclusion that based on photographical evidence, defendants Victor Joe and Obey Peters, with criminal intent, went to the complainant’s residence where he and his group were told that Seth Koosono is no more living, they left and later returned and set the house and car on fire belonging to his parents.
The four persons arrested and charged were transferred on Tuesday to the central prison in upper Buchanan pending court trial, while other suspects linked to the burning of the properties are still on the run.