As 15-Year-Old Victim’s Mother Flees With Her To Unknown Destination
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
The Pastor of the St. John United Methodist Church in Gbarnga, Bong County, Rev. Dr. Samuel Karyea has finally been indicted for rape of a teenage girl by the Grand Jurors of this central Liberian county.
One report says the mother of the minor has fled to an unknown destination with her, in order to stop the matter from being tried.
The defendant, Rev. Karyea was indicted by the Grand Jury, in line with Chapter 14:70 of the new rape law of Liberia.
In Liberia, rape is a first degree felony and a nonbailable offense. Most often alleged rapists are usually incarcerated while awaiting court trial.
Investigation revealed that the mother of the rape victim is also allegedly in some sort of relationship with Rev. Dr. Samuel Karyea, and if the girl is not available to the court, it will be difficult to pursue with the trial.
The Methodist cleric was arrested, investigated, charged and sent to Court a senior cleric of the United Methodist for raping a minor in Gbarnga and the church swiftly suspended him, after the alleged act.
Rev. Karyea, Senior Pastor of the St. John United Methodist Church and Dean of the Gbarnga School of Theology, was arrested, investigated, charged and sent to the 9th Judicial Circuit Court for alleged statutory rape by the Liberia National Police.
According to police investigation, defendant Karyea, age 54 allegedly raped a 15 –year-old girl, who was on his list of sponsored students at the Williams V.S. Tubman High school in Gbarnga.
The cleric is said to be married with wife and children staying together but went to rape a minor.
According to reports, he allegedly raped the survivor for the first time in the Lelekpayea community where the survivor and her parents also live.
The second alleged rape incident occurred on the compound of the school of theology, where the victim again complained to her parents but it was never taken serious.
Police was informed when a Human Rights and some Civil Society groups came together and issued a press statement, pressuring the police for the immediate arrest of the clergyman.
In a swift manner, the police moved in and had the Pastor arrested, investigated, charged and forwarded to court. Pastor Karyea is currently behind bars awaiting court trial.
In a press statement on Thursday, April 2, 2020, the United Methodist Church called on the Government of Liberia to fast-track his trial, and said they “regret the alleged sexual assault carryout by one of its pastors, citing that, the law must take its course against the clergyman.”
“United Methodist Church in Liberia suspends pastor for allegedly raping a 15 year-old minor in Gbarnga, Bong County. The investigation established that in September last year, the victim was firstly tempered with in the Lelekpayea community and later on the Compound of the Gbarnga School of Theology.
UMC-Liberia has meanwhile called for the speedy trail of their clergymen, adding that, it strongly believed in the smooth adjudication of the rule of law.year old girl on two separate occasions.
The investigation established that in September last year, the victim was firstly tempered with in the Lelekpayea community and later on the Compound of the Gbarnga School of Theology. UMC-Liberia has meanwhile, called for the speedy trail of their clergymen. It added that,it strongly believed in the smooth adjudication of the rule of law,” the statement from the Methodist Church said.
It is being speculated that defendant Karyea might be placed on bail since the victim mother has fled with the girl from their residence and gone to an unknown location, something that will hinder the case from proceeding.