The Liberia National Police in Liberia’s southeastern Grand Kru County has charged six persons with multiple offenses for allegedly torturing a 72-year-old woman and her son, age 44.
The 72 year-old woman, Madam Susannah Quire, said they were physically assaulted in various forms, resulting into injuries in a Patty electoral district #1 by an angry mob who accused them of being involved in witchcraft.
The charges against those arrested range from Gang Rape, Criminal attempt to
commit Murder, Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Criminal mischief, and Theft
related offenses in connection with the July 11, 2019 mob Justice in Patty
Garraway administrative district in Trehn Statutory district.
According to the police charge sheet, 11 persons were charged in their absence
and are on the run, and also wanted by police authority.
Police probe conducted revealed that
those alleged perpetrators on the run were at the center of the violence Saga.
The six individuals who were arrested recently by police in the county
were informed of their constitutional rights, were investigated, charged
and forwarded to court.
Those in police custody in Barclayville, Grand Kru County, are Gabriel N. Quire
age 73, Robert Brown age 67, Moses D. Peahen age 64, George G. Dobboh age
46, Wilson F. Toe age 47, Johnson K. Hinneh age 34.
The six persons were arrested on July 19, 2019 by the county police authority
for initiating mob violence against the seventy eight years old woman along
with her son.
The two survivals were accused of witchcraft activities against one of their
family members who was brusting his farmland and fell down to the ground.
After the incident, he consulted a traditional witch doctor in the area who
accused the 78 year old woman and son for being responsible for what happened
to him on his farm.
According to police charge sheet the six persons explained that the woman
and her son allegedly admitted to the town people after the traditional
consultation and they promised to locate those things they are using to bewitch
others to be handed over to the elders.
They indicated that the woman and her son’s unwillingness to cooperate with
their traditional investigations, which according to them, they see as making
mockery that prompted their actions.
Police probe conducted further disclosed that the traditional elders allegedly
forced 45 years old Victor Wallace to have sex with his own mother, which he
refused.
The six persons including others allegedly pushed stick into Susannah’s sexual
organ and further scraped her naked and paraded with her in the center of the
town.
Victor failure to have sexual intercourse with his mother he was apprehended by
the country society and maltreated. They put cutlass in a fire and began
sticking it on his bodies including is private part.
Meanwhile the Woman and son are yet to make statements to police.Report by Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com