HARPER: The Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in Maryland County Tuesday, August 22, charged and forwarded to court Sylvester C. Wesseh, 39, for allegedly impregnating a 16 year-old minor.
Sylvester, who is currently incarcerated at the Harper Central Prison, is awaiting court trial after being charged with statutory rape in keeping with the Criminal Procedures Law of Liberia.
The incident, according to the LNP, was reported by Chinnie Weay, mother of the victim, on Thursday, August 17.
Chinnie, a resident of the Easy Town Community in Harper, alleged that her 16 year-old daughter was sexually abused by Wesseh sometime this year, leading to her pregnancy.
The victim, for her part, told police investigators that during one evening in 2023, she was sent along with her brother Diamond to purchase a mosquito coils when they met suspect Wesseh coming from a bathroom outside his house.
After greeting him, he requested an audience with her and while keeping company, her brother left.
Wesseh, she narrated, entered his house and later came out, pulled her in and had sexual intercourse with her.
Police confirmed that suspect Wesseh had admitted to the allegation, and medical reports from the J. J. Dossen Referral Hospital indicate that the victim is carrying a three-month, two days pregnancy.
Based upon the facts established, the suspect was charged with the crime of statutory rape and forwarded to the Harper City Magisterial Court for trial and remanded at the Harper Central Prison, awaiting court trial.
Suspect Wesseh is an assigned nurse and a civic health educator at the Out Patient Department (OPD) of the James Jenkins Dossen Memorial Hospital in Harper, Maryland County.
The Women and Children Protection Section of the LNP, headed by Regional Commander, Chief Inspector, Leona Gaye-Kangar, said it is committed to ensuring that the right of every Liberian is protected, especially women and children, who fall prey to domestic and sexual abuses.
She encouraged everyone to report to the LNP cases of violence against women and children.
Meanwhile, Maryland’s National Independent Commission on Human Rights Monitor Boniface Nyemah has condemned as inhumane act perpetrated by the nurse against the minor and reaffirmed his institution’s support to ensuring justice for both parties in keeping with the due process of law.
He is, however, calling on civil society organizations, justice and human rights actors to join efforts in combating violence against women, girls and children in the county.
It can be recalled that in February this year, Maryland County former commander for the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency, Joseph Taggedine, was accused of raping a 16 year-old girl in Harper.
But Special Agent Taggedine is yet to return to the county to face the due process of law.
Another Bailiff, Joseph Ponpon Sonpon, of the Gedetarbo Magisterial Court, who was jailed at the Fish Town Central Prison over rape allegation was reportedly released without court trial. Source: LINA
