By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
PLEEBO, Liberia- A 34-year-old rape suspect identified as Sunday Brown has been incarcerated in Pleebo, southeastern Maryland County for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Henogbo Town, Karluway Statutory district.
Parents of the victim alerted the Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police Tuesday, 17 November in Pleebo 2021 that their daughter had been sexually abused by the suspect.
The minor was immediately rushed to the Pleebo Health Center where health authorities conducted an examination and confirmed penetration.
Narrating the entire ordeal, the minor said, she was sent by her mother to pick up cassava that was already dug on the farm, and that while on her way back to town, suspect Brown met her and forced her into the bush and abused her sexually.
“My mother sent me for cassava on the farm, while on my way he and I met. I said uncle hello! Then he said hello. When I passed by him then he pushed the bag from my head. So I asked him uncle what I do? He pushed me in the bush and started having me.”
She added that the suspect had warned her that if she tells anyone she would have died.
But the minor couldn’t keep her ordeal secret due to the severity of the injury she sustained in her private part.
“He promised to give me One Thousand Liberian dollars (L$1000.00) with three water baskets if I don’t tell anyone”, she said.
She said due to injury in her private part, she later informed her parents about the incident and the parents informed Karluway Administrative District#3 Commissioner Peter Kuma.
Commissioner Kuma reported the case immediately which prompted police to arrest, charge and send Suspect Brown to court.
The victim was on Tuesday, November 21 discharged from the Cavalla Rubber Corporation Medical Center
The victim, who is a first-grade student, told this Reporter that she has no appetite of going back to her hometown due to the traumatic situation she went through.
She called on government, humanitarian individuals, and institutions for prompt intervention so that she can continue her education in any part of the country.
The suspect was arrested by Police and charged with Statutory Rape, consistent with Section 14. 70 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberia and forwarded to the Pleebo Magisterial Court for trial.
As part of efforts to ensure that Suspect Sunday Brown goes through the due process of law, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection Coordinator, Nathalie Whea has launched an SOS call for eleven thousand Liberian dollars to transfer the suspect to River Gee prison facility, due to the absence of vehicle by local authorities responsible for such matters..
Madam Whea said it is regrettable to have the suspect going sky-free due to the gravity of the crime he has committed against the state, so she is calling on civil society and human rights organizations for assistance.