PHOTO: Melvin Molden (left)Isreal Amoah Duncann (middle) of Spoon Fm/Tv and Tennyson Torplue in long sleeve (right)
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Three Liberian Journalists have become newsmakers for the wrong reason, as they have been arrested by Police for allegedly being involved in extortion and criminally taking huge amounts of money under the disguise of investigation, but the Press Union of Liber (PUL) has called for their “speedy, Impartial investigation”.
In a news conference today, Thursday July 21, 2022, Liberia National Police spokesman, Moses Carter said these journalists usually call prominent citizens telling them that they have stories on them and later demand huge amounts of money to compromise the story.
But after what is said to be a chain of such acts over a period of time, three Journalists have this week been arrested and are currently undergoing police investigating for reportedly attempting to extort money from a local businessman—Philip Bayor Dwuye Sr., President and CEO of the FOE-BE Agriculture Cooperation—under the pretext of compromising an alleged rape case involving a teenager.
Few others are said to have been involved and are still on the run, Police say. Journalists Tennyson Torplue, one of the accused and who is said to be the main doer of the alleged criminal act, has declared his intention to contest the Margibi County District #3 Representative sea.
According to the police spokesman Carter, journalists Melvin Molden-36, of Spoon TV and FM. Israel Amoah Duncann, 37 of Spoon TV and FM and Joseph Soma of TV Liberia online, Thomas Karwon, of the D. Tweh online as well as 36 year-old Tenesee Torplue of the Independent TV online, were harassing the businessman to give them US$20, 000 as a means of compromising the story. Others are said to be on the run.
“According to the complaint, these journalists had gone to his home, thereby demanding US$ 20, 000 to compromise a sex scandal case that was in their possession,” the Police spokesman said.
The three suspects were arrested at the home of the businessman when they went to collect the money.
These same journalists have been attending press conferences and purporting to be working with media institutions which of course they are not working with.
Meanwhile, police say their investigation has revealed that the suspects extorted and attempted to extort money from other public officials, including Maritime Commissioner Eugene Nagbe, former Police Inspector General, Chris Massaquoi, and the head of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Dale Gbotoe.
The police are still investigating and are in search for the others currently on the run.
PUL Calls for Speedy, Impartial investigation of Journalists Arrested
Meanwhile, the Press Union of Liberia ( PUL) is calling for a speedy and impartial investigation into the money extortion allegation involving some Liberian Journalists, said a PUL press release issued on Wednesday, July 21, 2022.
Three Journalists were arrested Thursday by the Liberia National Police ( LNP) in Monrovia, for alleged extortion of money from some prominent individuals . Others, according to the LNP are on the run.
The PUL believes, the investigation will authenticate the story and provide a clear picture of the situation.
Findings, the Union indicated, from the investigation will enable the parent Journalists body to determine the next course of action in conformity with its constitution and code of conduct.
The PUL constitution and code of conduct calls for zero tolerance on Criminality and unprofessional conduct by its members.
The LNP Thursday disclosed that it arrested Tee Tennyson Torplue, Melon Modem alias (Thomas Tower) and Israel Duncan for alleged money extortion, under the canopy as Independent Investigative Journalists.
According to the police, they were arrested while attempting to extort money from one Philip Bayor Dwuye, Sr., President/ CEO of the FOE-BE Agricultural Corporation.
At the same time, some local observers blame such practice on weak regulations within the local media environment that is serving as breeding ground for quacks, where anyone can hold phone and perform the role of journalists.
One citizen, who preferred not to be named, said anyone with access to a radio station or media platform “are automatically turning into Journalists, even politicians only because of weak regulations of the industry,” even in the absence of adherence to professional Journalistic ethics.