-Urges Gov’t to “fast track his trial”
PHOTO: Cleric suspected of rape in Police handcuff in Gbarnga
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
After Police arrested and charged a senior cleric of the United Methodist for raping a minor in Gbarnga, Bong County, central Liberia, the church has now suspended the accused, Rev. Dr. Samuel Karyea.
Rev. Karyea, senior Pastor of the St. John United Methodist Church and Dean of the Gbarnga School of Theology, has been arrested, investigated, Charged and sent to court the 9th Judicial Circuit Court for alleged statutory rape by the Liberia National Police.
According to police investigation, defendant Karyeah, age 54 allegedly raped a 15 –ear-old girl, who was on his list of sponsored students at the Williams V.S. Tubman High school in Gbarnga.
The cleric is said to be married with wife and children staying together but went to rape a minor.
One report says, he allegedly raped the survivor for the first time in the Lelekpayea community where the survivor and her parents also live but was said to be compromised by parents when she complained of the sexual acted melted against her by this servant of God.
The Second alleged rape incident occurred on the compound of the school of theology, where the victim again complained to her parents but it was never taken serious.
Police was informed when a Human Rights and some Civil Society groups came together and issued a press statement, pressuring the police for the immediate arrested of the clergy man.
In a swift manner, the police moved in and had the Pastor arrested, investigated, charged and forwarded to court. Pastor Karyeah is currently behind bar awaiting court trial.
In a press statement on Thursday, April 2, 2020, the United Methodist Church called on the Government of Liberia to fast-track his trial, and said they “regret the alleged sexual assault carryout by one of its pastors, citing that, the law must take its course against the clergyman.”
“United Methodist Church in Liberia suspends pastor for allegedly raping a 15 year-old minor in Gbarnga, Bong County. The investigation established that in September last year, the victim was firstly tempered with in the Lelekpayea community and later on the Compound of the Gbarnga School of Theology. UMC-Liberia has meanwhile called for the speedy trail of their clergymen, adding that, it strongly believed in the smooth adjudication of the rule of law.year old girl on two separate occasions. The investigation established that in September last year, the victim was firstly tempered with in the Lelekpayea community and later on the Compound of the Gbarnga School of Theology. UMC-Liberia has meanwhile called for the speedy trail of their clergymen, adding that, it strongly believed in the smooth adjudication of the rule of law,” the statement from the Methodist Church said.