PHOTO: Suspect Archie Williams being escorted to court from the police station by court officers.
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
A man identified as Archie Williams, who was caught red-handed allegedly attempted to stealing a jeep on the grounds of the Temple of Justice this week, has now been formally charged, appeared in court and later sent to the Monrovia Central Prison.
He appeared in the Monrovia City Court on Friday facing a charge of theft of property, after allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Williams, who is believed to be in his late 30, is said to have attempted to stealing the parked jeep, when a court officer apprehended him with a bunch of vehicle keys in the parking lot opposite the Executive Mansion trying them on various vehicles.
Not only was the bunch of keys in his possession, but he was also carrying spinal and screw driver
One vehicle after another, the keys were tried, whichever opens he would have found his booty.
Defendant Williams was turned over to the Liberia National police on the day of the alleged commission of crime for further investigation. He was not charged by police officers, but rather it was the Judiciary security through their Director, Jersey D. Wrotue.
The defendant was served a writ of arrest, following his appearance at the Monrovia City Court.
According to the writ of arrest, Williams has “on several occasions up to and including the 15th day of September A.D. 2021,at 10am, on the premises of the Temple of Justice, City of Monrovia, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia, the within named defendant being there and then with wicked, criminal intent, purposely and intentionally stole, took and carried away three motorbikes valued at US$3,900, six cars battery valued at US$300 and seven computers valued at US$1,700 totaling US$6,900 owned by the Judiciary. This exercising unauthorized control over same with the intent to deprive the private prosecutor thereof.”
The Writ described the alleged act of the defendant being “unlawful, wicked, criminal and intentional is in violation of section 15.51 of the New penal law of Liberia there and then the crime herein defendant did do and commit.”
One vehicle after another, the keys were tried, whichever opens he would have found his booty.
While on his expedition, one of the court officers caught him red-handed, and he told the officer he, too had a vehicle parked on the grounds of the Temple of Justice but after a good bit of time, he couldn’t identify his car.
After officers mounted pressure on him, he then told the security that he had parked his car on the other side of the court facing the Liberia National Police headquarters.
However, after he was escorted there, the man again couldn’t identify a vehicle belonging to him.
The suspect also lied that he has his relative working at the Temple of Justice, but failed to call the name of the relative, neither could be say which office.