FLASHBACK: Torture victim who was subjected to the Sassywood
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The Liberian Ministry of Justice has ordered the arrest of Sinoe County Education Officer, Alphonso Karmoh for allegedly ordering some citizens in Jedepo town Sinoe County to give “Sassywood” trial by ordeal, torturing an elderly man, John Wreh.
Mr. Kormah is alleged to have instigated and participated in the alleged torture of John Wreh.
According to Assistant Minister Wesseh A. Wesseh, the CEO was the one who ordered that Sassywood should be placed in the torture survivor eyes and under his arm and in his boxer.
Perpetrators of the recent brutal torture and humiliation meted out against the elderly man in Sinoe are yet to face justice, due to what is said to be lack of manpower and logistics that have prevent the state security apparatus from arresting them.
The brutal treatment of Mr. Wreh, who was captured on a disturbing video footage, as perpetrators of the act said he was being subjected to the traditional “Sassywood“—trial by ordeal in Jedepo, Liberia’s southeastern Sinoe County.
https://web.facebook.com/messenger_media/?thread_id=100012014989244&attachment_id=2893693780946140&message_id=mid.%24cAAAABsZ3tp6BPwF6w17Da1FA2Q6wVIDEO and still photo of the scene
This is a form of torture, which is a human rights violation under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Liberian law. And torture is defined as, the action or practice of inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something.”
According to the Sinoe County Attorney, Daniel T. Dweh due to the logistical constraints faced by the county security apparatus, he has persuaded some of alleged perpetrators (majority are older people) to come to town, something they did.
Attorney Dweh said when the alleged perpetrators including the County Education Officer went to his office, he was in trial at the Court on last Friday September 3, 2021, he told them to go back home and come back on Monday on September 6, 2021 to give their statement to the police at the station.
But given the remoteness of where the incident took place, the same County Education Officer promised the County Attorney that he will take custody of the alleged perpetrators and promised to bring them on Monday September 6, 202. Unfortunately, the CEO has failed to show up neither to bring those alleged perpetrators as he promised, according to the County Attorney.
The County Education Officer is currently on the run for his failure to show up for his alleged participation in the torturing of the commissioner John Wreh.
The survivor of recent disturbing video of a man being subjected to sassywood in Jedepo Sinoe County John Wreh, alias JB has explained his ordeal to the Liberia National people about how he was mad treated.
The incident happened on June 8, 2021 and he was taken to Government camp few days ago.
According to information gathered, the torture survivor recently visited the office of the County Attorney with a broken leg from the torture.
The survivor narrated that his home was broken down and all of his belongings were destroyed at the result of the violent act melted against him.
Currently, he has sought temporary sanctuary in government camp Sinoe County.
The survivor has given his statement to the police based on what occurred and Investigation is underway.
The area where the incident occurred has been described as a “hostile terrain”, where security apparatus can’t easily, especially in the midst of lack of logistics and man power to move in.
However, Sinoe County authorities have vowed to bring to book the perpetrators, but they say they will exercise cautious, given the life threatening factor involved.
“It will surprise you to note that this victim is the township commissioner of that area and is in his late 60s,” said an official.