PHOTO: Disrobed and dismissed Police ERU Commander, Amos Williams
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The Commander of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the Liberia National Police, Amos Williams and three other officers have been disrobed and dismissed by Justice Minster, Cllr. Musa Dean for brutalizing peaceful citizens.
Cllr. Dean told a news conference on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 that their dismissals take immediate effect dismissed for using excessive force on civilians.
ERU Commander Williams’ dismissal is in connection with the incident that occurred in Brewerville in his nightclub where he assaulted civilian, Jethro McCarthy, Minister Dean said.
(L-R) Victim Jetur McCarthy and Officer Amos Williams
Others dismissed are Inspector Chris Williams, Sergeant George Wleh and Hunprey Kyne
Inspector Chris Williams and a military personnel severely beat one Esther Younger in the Johnsonville area on February 4, 2022.
Officer Humphrey Kyne is said to have assaulted a female civilian, Oretha Tarlue and struck her with a gun in her stomach.
Montserrado County Attorney has been directed by the Justice Minister to begin investigation and onward prosecution of the dismissed officer.
Justice Minister Dean has cautioned the police to always exercise due diligence and discipline in the discharge of their duties,
At the same time, eyebrows were raised immediately after the news conference in Monrovia over conditions or law under which the police Emergency Response Unit, Amos Williams, Inspector Otis Wallace, Sergeant George Wleh and Humphrey Karhn were disrobed and dismissed.
Some insiders noted that there was no investigation initiated by the police Professional Standards Division (PSD).
Any misconduct of police officers in the public should firstly be investigated by the professional standards division of the Liberia national police and national hereafter send to the criminal service division (CSD) before any action can be taken but these procedures were never followed.
Liberian law Criminal procedure 2.2 says:
2.2. Adequate legal representation of accused persons.
1.Right to representation by legal counsel at every stage of proceedings.
In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to be represented by legal counsel at every stage of the proceedings from the time of arrest or, where no arrest has been made, from the initial appearance and submission of the accused to the jurisdiction of the court. This right continues through appeal and postconviction proceedings, if any.
The above mentioned law was never taken into consideration by the Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean during his emotional press conference at the police headquarters today on March 29,2022.
Addressing a news conference at the police headquarters, justice Minister Dean said, the ERU commander was disrobed and dismissed for severely beating and wounding a civilian identified as Jethro MCCarthy at a local entertainment center owned by he (commander Williams) in Brewerville, outside of the capital, Monrovia.
Victim Jethro McCarthy a Liberian entrepreneur and business man was allegedly brutalized and gruesomely wounded by ERU boss, Amos Williams.
According to victim McCarthy, his spouse identified as Ruth McCarthy recently arrived from the United States of America where and her husband victim MCCarthy went to an entertainment center at camp David in Parker corner one of the communities within Brewerville district number # 17.
Victim McCarthy said the alleged incident occurred when his wife went to buy at the counter and police officer Williams (ERU boss) shown his middle finger at his wife which triggered to misunderstanding between he and Williams, which later led to his brutalization.
The incident occurred on march 26,2022 where he took his family for the first time for entertainment and the victim is said to be working with LPRC and it is alleged that it is the usual act of the dismissal of the ERU boss who used Arm to fear citizens.
Victim McCarthy, said he had 10,000 United States dollars was missing during the incident.