PHOTO: Those allegedly involved in the Nimba Violence being taken to court
By Joseph Wongbah
SANNIQUELLIE, Liberia- In the capital of Nimba County 187 miles northeast from Monrovia, Police have charged and sent to court 7 people in connection to the obstructions and destruction of NEC ballot boxes and some election materials.
The police took the action on Wednesday, October 18, 2023
On the day of the general elections (Tuesday, October 10, 2023), some citizens of Beo Lontuo Town in the northeastern Nimba County Electoral District #4 denied and obstructed NEC’s poll workers assigned at the Lontuo polling places from counting the presidential, senatorial, and representative elections ballot papers.
Reports said that while in the process, a man identified as Yeaneh Kanweah, a resident of Beo Gborplay town, Nimba District #4 on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at about 11: 30 AM violently joined through one of the Lontuo’s school building windoors and destroyed about two of the NEC’s ballot boxes including the Senate, Representative and Presidential ballot papers.
Some of the eyewitnesses also told reporters that a group of Beo’s citizens also violently used the Town Chief’s house and forcibly entered his house and destroyed additional ballot boxes and papers through the instructions of the ES, Menwongbay Sieder and others to be identified.
In the process, several arrests were made by the Liberia National Police Nimba Detachment which about seven (7) were charged and sent to court on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, with multiple crimes. Those arrested charged and sent to court are: Emmanuel Louh, age 19, Gomehtay Gomie, age 38, George Josephus, age 45, Memwongbay Sieder, age 39, Nelson Gomah, 19, Harrison Cooper, age 25 and Hakkaton Mahn, age 40.
They were charged with multiple crimes. The crimes are obstruction of Government Functions, Criminal Facilitation, Criminal conspiracy, Obstruction of Government functions by Public Servants, and tampering with Public Records. Others include Rioting and failure to disperse and Disorderly Conduct in violation of Sections 15.5, 15.20, 15.51, 10.2, 10. 4, 12. 1, 12.3, 12. 34, 18.1, and 17.3 of the revised penal code of the Republic of Liberia coupled with the new Election Law sections 10.6 10. 8, 10.9, and 10.22.
The charged individuals are accused of Destruction, Removal, or Mutilation of ballot papers or ballot boxes and slogans as an election offense pending court’s trial while defendants Stanley Kwanue, Adolphus Kwanue, brothers to Olindo Kwanue of the candidates from District #4 Nimba County.
Yeaneh Kanweah, Prince Winegbah, and Nelson Gweh and a number of others are to be identified also be charged in absentia on the same crimes pending their arrests.