By: H. Richard Fallah
MONROVIA: In the wake of startling revelations by the former Chairman of Liberia’s erstwhile Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Cllr. Jerome Verdier, linking an officer of the Monrovia City Police, Varlee Telleh, to the series of attacks against the Brewerville home of former Chief Justice, Gloria Musu Scott, leading to the macabre killing of her daughter, Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee has promised to turn over the accused (Varlee Telleh) to the Ministry of Justice for investigation.
“I wish to inform you that Mr. Telleh is currently in Liberia and duly employed with us at the City Government and as you deem fit of the Police, I commit to having him turned over to your good office for investigation as we all look forward to finding the perpetuators of the crime against the former chief Justice and the state,” Koijee disclosed in his letter to Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean.
Although the Lord Mayor did not state when Varlee Telleh will be turnover to the Justice Ministry for probe but in his communication, dated Monday, February 27, 2023, and addressed to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, Mayor Koijee clarified that the accused (Varlee Telleh), is a patrolman of the Monrovia City Police, and not Deputy for Operation as stated by the former TRC boss, Cllr. Jerome Verdier.
According to Koijee, “Mr. Telleh is a current lecturer of the ‘MASJID TAHALELE MOSQUE’, a renowned Muslim School in Brewerville with an enrollment of over two hundred (200) students, where he is an Imam and has been making impactful contribution to the country.”
At the same time, the Monrovia Lord-Mayor who is also Secretary General of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), informed MOJ of his decision to pursue a ‘Lawsuit’ against Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier Sr., former Chairman of the TRC for what he (Koijee) described as “malicious lies” that he, (Koijee), masterminded the series of attacks that were carried out against Justice Scott.
The governing CDC’s Chief Scribe said, his planned lawsuit against Cllr. Verdier will ascertain the truth in order to bring an end to what he (Koijee) described as “repeated, unprovoked, groundless, and cruel attacks on his character.”
Koijee: “In view of the wanton claims by Cllr. Verdier, I have notified my lawyers both home and abroad to pursue a Lawsuit against him to ascertain the truth”, the Mayor noted in his formal communication to the Minister of Justice.
Koijee, in his letter, further explained to the Justice Minister that on February 23, 2023, on the Spoon-Talk platform, a phone–in show and other networks, Cllr. Jerome Verdier, without any facts and information available to him (Cllr, Verdier) launched vile (dreadful) attacks on his (Koijee’s) person for an unexplained reason.
Moreover, Lord Mayor Koijee asserted that the TRC’s former boss, maliciously lied that Varlee, an ex-combatant, under (he) Koijee’s instructions, participated in the “unfortunate armed robbery” at the home of Justice Scott.
He furthered noted that it is not the first time Cllr. Verdier is spewing out such “spiteful statement or remarks on his (Koijee’s) character, for reasons best known to him.
Koijee: “It can be vividly recalled that Cllr. Verdier misinformed the public that I was a participant of the Liberian civil war as a child soldier,” a claim that he (Koijee) said, was later disproven.
In the same vein, the Monrovia City Police, has issued a release in which it said, its attention has been drawn to what they described as “a false, malicious and devilish accusation made against an officer of the City Police”, Varlee Telleh, by Cllr. Jerome Verdier.
Following the attacks on the home of Justice Scott, Cllr. Jerome J. Verdier, now, Executive Director of Washington DC based International Justice Group (IJG), accused officer Varlee Telleh of murdering the daughter of the former Chief Justice, and that the act was allegedly masterminded by Mayor Jefferson Koijee.
He made said claims via a local radio Talk-Show, Spoon Talk recently.
But in their release, dated February 28, 2023, the personnel of the Monrovia City Police condemned the “grave accusation” against Mayor Koijee and Officer Varlee Telleh.
The release continued that the Monrovia City Police is a “vibrant, ethical and professional force with the constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties within the city limit.”
“This Force,” the release said, “does not in any way, tolerate any unethical or unprofessional act by any member, from top to bottom, not even the Director.”
“We also want to inform the public that Varlee is in country and performing his duty as a Patrol Officer at the Monrovia City Police, contrary to Verdier’s claims,” the release asserted.
It said, the act of baselessly mischaracterizing and falsely accusing people of committing grave crimes is totally inhumane and a violation of human rights.” The release further noted that the action of Cllr. Verdier is “anti-peace and has the propensity to incite violence in the heart of family members of the victims.”
The City Police maintains in its release, that “Liberia is a country of laws, therefore, any individual with concerns should contact the court of competent jurisdiction, instead of making “reckless allegations.”
