Police Poised To Send Them To Court For Multiple Crimes Including “Rioting”
FLASHBACK: Sekou Kalasco Damaro (right) on his way to Monrovia Central Prison on Tuesday
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The Aide to former Liberian President George Manneh Weah, Sekou Kalasco Damaro and 14 other street protesters have spent their second night behind bars at the Monrovia Central Prison, as the 48-hour ultimatum given by the main opposition CDC party for their release expires.
Charged with rioting and other crimes, Mr. Damaro were among others involved in staging Tuesday’s street protest against the Boakai government’s alleged violation of the rule of law and good governance and democratic norms.
As the protesters marched peacefully towards the Capitol Building to present their petition, the protest turned violent after police prevented them from going through their barrier, thus sparking clashes with teargas being fired greeted by stone throwing.
After police quelled the protest, the government justified the move because it said the gathering was “illegal” and that demonstrators did not get official “permit”, a position the protesters said amounts to violation of the constitutional rights of citizens to peacefully assemble in line with Article 17 of the Liberia’s 1986 constitution. Big Fire Engulfing The Seat Of Liberia’s Legislature Follows Tuesday’s Bloody Street Protest – News Public Trust
He and other defendants are charged with multiple crimes ranging from RIOT, FAILURE TO DISPERSE, OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAYS AND OTHER PASSAGES, PHYSICAL OBSTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT FUNCTION, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, THEFT OF PROPERTY & DISORDERLY CONDUCT and are to be tried by the Monrovia City Magisterial Court presided over by Judge Ben L. Barco.
Magistrate Barco’s writ reads; “You are hereby commanded to ARREST the living body (ies) of Sekou Kalasco Damaro, and others, to be identified Defendant(s) and forthwith bring them before the Monrovia City Court, Temple of Justice, Montserrado County to answer the Charge of Riot, Failure to Disperse, Obstructing Highway and other Passages, Physical Obstruction of Government Function, Aggravated Assault, etc. based upon the oath and complaint of the Republic of Liberia by and thru the Ministry of Justice Prosecutor (trix).
Some of those arrested and sent to jail are Sekou Kalasco Damaro, Martha Johnson, Comfort N. Brown, Charles Johnson, Francis Flomo, Augustine Zaizay, Stanley Flomo while, others to be identified were involved in damaging a state-owned olive-green Toyota Prado, bearing license plate A6309 along with three other vehicles, total value USD40,000.
According to the court document, during the period of December 12, 2024, co-defendant Sekou Kalaso Damaro and others fourteen defendants to be identified have been using electronic, print and social media (Facebook) to call on Liberians to gather in their numbers so as to stage a protest.
The writ alleged that as the result of defendant Sekou Kalasco Damaro and others planned protest, they on Tuesday, December 17, 20224 beginning 08:00hrs up to 09:00hrs, begun assembling at various locations in Montserrado County from where they left for Capitol Hill and its surroundings with the intention of forcibly entering the Capitol Building, where the defendants blocked the main streets leading to the Capitol Building, and they participated in breaking barriers erected by the LNP, since indeed the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Joseph Nyumah Boakai and other top officials of Government were accepted to meet at the Capitol Building.
The defendants physically assaulted one of the Patrolman Amara Bility of the LNP, inflected wounds on his head and took away assigned weapon, thereby damaging a state-owned Olive-green Toyota Prado, bearing license plate A6309 along with three other vehicles value US$40,000.
The alleged act of the defendants, account to the writ is being unlawful, wicked, criminal and intentional is in violation of Chapters 17, 12, 15 & 14, Sections 17.1, 17.3, 12.1. 15 53, 1.51 and 14.20 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberian.
Magistrate Barco’s writ concluded that the act of the defendants’ are in violation of chapters 17, 12, 15 and 14, sections 17.1, 17.3, 12.1, 15.53, 1.51 and 14.20 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberia pending trial by court of competent jurisdiction.