PHOTO: Defendant from the NSA in black long trousers with an accomplice outside the court
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- An officer of the National Security Agency (NSA), Arthur Chanchan has been charged and forwarded to the Monrovia City Court to answer to the crimes of trafficking in persons and forgery.
Defendant Arthur Chanchan was arrested on September 13, 2022 based upon a complaint filed to the Liberia National Police (LNP) by two female victims, who alleged that they were trafficked to Oman deceitfully by the defendant and his nephew, with the assurance that they would get well paid jobs.
His nephew has been identified as Samuel Chanchan, who is based in Dubai.
There is a law in Liberia that bans trafficking in persons and Article 1 of the Act which says: “Trafficking In Persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a person by means of the threat or use of force or other means of coercion, or by abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or by the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”
Dozens of Liberian women have in recent times been trafficked to the Middle East state of Oman, reporting that they were abused and maltreated, something that prompting the Liberian government to launch the repatriation of several of them back home.
Recently, based on numerous complaints, the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Labor called on the Kingdom of Oman to halt granting visas to Liberians and to ensure that Liberian women in Oman are protected
Like with many other victims trafficked over time to the Arab Kingdom, victim Christine Pallah Flomo explained to officers of the LNP that she got to know about the traveling opportunity through her friend, Catherine Cooper,who told her that they were going to do housemate work and go to school in Oman at the same time earning over USD500 monthly as salaries; ths subsequently linked to Suspect Samuel Chanchan who then
Victim Flomo further told police investigators that she was subsequently linked to Suspect Samuel Chanchan who then processed all of her travel documents for which she had paid USD400 through her friend, Catherine Cooper, and on December 3, 2021 travelled to Oman, where she was abused and mistreated by her employers, and her documents were seized at the airport airport by her sponsor upon her arrival.
As with Victim Flomo, Monica Mama Tellewoyan also trafficked by the defendant and his accomplice narrated that she was recruited in October 2021 by her friend Princess Reeds who had also informed her about the traveling opportunity to Dubai in order to get a better life.
Victim Monica revealed to the police that she had also paid some cash of USD280 in two installments, and at the airport had met defendant Arthur Chanchan who she subsequently give US$75 like victim Flomo, upon the instruction of Suspect Samuel.
According to police investigation, it was established that the Suspect Samuel Chanchan with the help of his uncle, the defendant recruited and transported the victims and many other Liberian to Oman in order to have them work in a favorable and human working condition and to earn deserving salaries but upon their arrival, they were forced to work overly by their bosses who also seized their movements
Police findings however, revealed that defendant Arthur Chanchan at the time, disguised himself as an officer of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and had received cash from the victims as fees for easy access through LIS check, for which he converted for his personal use.
Based upon said acts, police charged the defendant with the commission of the crimes “Trafficking in Persons and Forger”
Defendant Chanchan’s crimes are a violation of section 2A &B and 15.70 of the new trafficking in Persons Act and the Penal Law of Liberia.
He was however, was acquainted with his constitutional rights, investigated and duly charged by the police, after which he was sent to the Monrovia Central Prison by the court and he is expected to be duly tried under the law.
US upgraded Liberia to Tier 2 watch list but…
Liberia has over the past year been stepping up its fight against human trafficking, making steady progress.
In its 2022 Trafficking of persons report, the US State Department commended the Liberian government for its efforts in fighting the crime, upgrading the country’s status to Tier 2 watch list, but said much more still needs to be done to fight the menace.
“The Government of Liberia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period…,” the US State Department report said.
The US report added: ”However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. Shelter services for victims remained insufficient, and the government did not support NGOs providing care to victims. Law enforcement officials continued to lack adequate resources and understanding of trafficking to effectively investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes.”