-As prosecution witnesses begin testifying
PHOTO ABOVE: Moses Solo, head of the traditional devil in orange jumpsuit on the right in handcuff along with other defendants.
By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Buchanan, Liberia-Two state witnesses have testified in the case involving three women who were recently stripped naked, raped and paraded on allegations of being witches in Liberia’s southeastern Sinoe County.
One of the two, Angeline Saydee, said in her testimony in the Circuit Court in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, that it all began after she engaged the accused on the whereabouts of her missing son she had left in town to go into the devil bush.
The three women victims in Sinoe were last December were stripped naked and paraded in five towns and sticks were forced into their private parts. They were also burned on their entire body, on orders of traditional or “country devil”.
The matter was transferred from Sinoe County to Grand Bassa County based on change of venue filed by the prosecution or the state.
Witness Angeline Saydee said they were sexually assaulted by a mob, with sticks driven in their private parts on orders of a man identified as Moses Solo.
Madam Saydee said in open court that her son has not so far been found, despite a search launched by the police in the area the child was said to have been carried to the dark world.
The leg of a police officer is said to have been broken in accident that occurred during that operation.
Wlliet, one of the women who was tortured died as a result, and that one of the defendants was said to have been heard telling the woman he was settling score with the woman for turning down his advances for love affair.
For her part, second state witness Florence Tarkley testified that after being stripped naked, eddo stems and sticks were inserted in their private parts, and that they were gang raped on orders of the grand country devil.
She also explained that they tied hand and foot, with fire lit on their bodies, injuries of which she showed in the court.
The ordeal they endured was unimaginable, Tarkley noted.
The witnesses were cross examined by both prosecution and defend lawyers.
Nine were charged in connection to the humiliation and torture meted against the women, one of whom consequently died.
Their charges include murder, gang raped, and aggravated assault, among others
Three are serving as state witness.
The accused include Moses Solo, alias the Grand Devil, Elijah Karpeh, Sylvester Cherdy and Tweh Kelgbeh.
Others are Sweh Payne, Teah Gmawulu, Victor Solo, Payne Nyan, Anthony Karmo and Marshall Gbala.
Three have agreed to serve as state witnesses in the ongoing trial at the 2nd Judicial Circuit court in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County.
Some women were recently paraded naked, reportedly gang rape and tortured, leading to the death of one of them.
They victims had been accused of involvement in witchcraft activities.