But Was The Former Presidential Aide Really Tortured?
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The current head of office in the officer of former President George Manneh Weah, Lenn Eugene Nagbe has accused state security forces of ‘torturing’ former Presidential Aide, Sekou Kalasco Damaro, a claim that has not been independently verified and say they will pursue legal action against the Unity Party government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The government was strongly criticized by the former ruling party, CDC and other citizens who said they had the right to protest against what they called disrespect for the rule of law and bad governance practices by the nearly one-year-old UP government.
Mr. Nagbe, who is former Maritime Authority Commissioner in the erstwhile CDC regime made the claim on Thursday, December 19, 2024 after they secured bond for the release of Mr. Kalasco and fourteen others from the Monrovia Central Prison who were arrested and charged with rioting, following Tuesday street protest which turned violent in Monrovia. Weah’s Aide, Sekou Kalasco, Other Street Protesters Spend 2 Nights In Jail, As CDC’s 48-Hour Ultimatum Expires – News Public Trust
But the government is yet to react to the claim of torture.
The United Nations Universal Declaration (UDHR) says every human being has the right to protection against torture, which is inhumane and degrading treatment. According to UN conventions, “Torture occurs when someone deliberately causes very serious and cruel pain or suffering (physical or mental) to another person. This might be to punish someone, or to intimidate or obtain information from them”
Mr. Kalasco and others jailed, who claimed their rights were violated, were temporarily released from the central prison known as South Beach by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” in Monrovia based on a valid criminal appearance bond and human sureties.
The nature of the case made Judge Willie to order the defendants to bring human sureties in addition to the bail bond signed in connection with the crimes charged.
In addition to that, Willie requested them to appear every Thursday in the sheriff’s office to sign; indicating that they are in the bailiwick of the country. The Writ:
“YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED TO RELEASE FROM FURTHER DETENTION THE LIVING BODY (s) Sekou Damaro, Amosa M. Cassell, Othello D. Frank, Moses Menen, Mohammed S. Mansaray, Dark Thomas, Albert Weah, Martha Johnson, Francis Flomo, Augustine Zayzay, Stanley Flomo, Raheem Paye, Charles Johnson, Comort M. Brown and Wesseh James, DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH THE COMMISSION OF THE CRIMES OF: “RIOT, FAILURE TO DISPERSE, OBSTRUCTING, HIGHWAYS AND OTHER PASSAGES, PHYSICAL, OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENT FUNGTION, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, THEFT OF PROPERTY AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT” FORTHWITH BRING THEM BEFORE THIS HONOURABLE COURT.
Judge Willie’s writ also reads: “YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED TO MAKE YOUR OFFICIAL RETURNS TO THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT, STATING YOUR MANNER AND FORM OF SERVICE WITH YOUR SIGNATURE ENDORSED THERE ON THE BA¢K OF THE ORIGINAL, AND FOR SO DOING, THIS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOUR LEGAL AND SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY.”
Judge Willie’s action is due to the transferring of the matter from the Monrovia City Court Magistrate Ben L. Barco base on police handling them over to the court.
The 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.
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, 2024 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.