Recently, the Palm Community in Kpelleh Town, Gardnerville, outside Monrovia, was effectively awash by reports of grief, anger, and fear when a purported officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP), identified as Sylvester Wesseh, was linked to the gruesome hacking off of the finger of a young boy, identified as Courage Wesseh.
A local daily, quoted Mr. Michael Hinneh, brother of the victim, as alleging that, officer Sylvester Wesseh, believed to be assigned at the Kebbah Deport, Zone 4, of the Liberia National Police (LNP), used a hard saw in hacking off the finger of his brother, Courage Wesseh.
Mr. Hinneh, narrated that officer Wesseh allegedly carried out the act after a confusion erupted between him (officer Sylvester Wesseh) and some friends in the community. It is not clear as to what prompted said confusion.
According to Mr. Michael Hinneh, during the scuffle, officer Sylvester Wesseh felt disrespected by the victim and his friends (not named), and as such, officer Wesseh allegedly used a hard saw to cut off the finger of his brother. The incident, he disclosed, occurred on 25, February, 2024.
Michael Hinneh also explained that following the incident, the aggrieved family of victim Courage Hinneh formally informed the Kebbah Police Deport, Zone 4, and that LNP senior Police officer, “106” was also called and he responded to their call.
However, according to the aggrieved family, LNP “106” did not take any action against the alleged perpetrator (LNP officer Wesseh).
Victim Courage Hinneh, the Family sadly said, is now facing severe pains while the alleged perpetrator (officer Sylvester Wesseh) roams with impunity.
For us, at The INDEPENDENT Newspaper, we think that the claim that an officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP), is involved in the hacking off of the finger of a young man without any thorough investigation is not only troubling, worrisome, unbelievable and discouraging but also has the potential to taint the professional integrity and credibility of the Liberia National Police (LNP), in particularly, and the image of the Liberian Nation in general.
We think that such allegation that borders on the alleged behavior of an officer of the LNP, if not properly investigated and appropriate corrective measures taken, may also place a big dent to Liberia’s commitment to upholding global human rights protocols and conventions to which the country is a signatory.
That a young man’s finger has been awfully hacked off in broad daylight and that the state, through the LNP, was duly informed but nothing has so far, been done to bring much-needed remedy to the aggrieved family speaks volumes, as far as Liberia’s expressed commitment to social justice, due process of law, the fight against crimes, among others, are concerned.
We also contemplate that, if the matter was, in anyway investigated scrupulously, and the accused LNP officer, Sylvester Wesseh, in the wisdom of the LNP investigation Team report is not liable for any wrongdoing, authorities of the LNP must come forward and plainly tell the Liberian public and the aggrieved family the circumstances on which their decision, if any, on the matter were based.
We strongly feel that it would be grossly inappropriate, uncivilized, and totally disappointing for a Liberian citizen, no matter his status in the society to be inflicted with such severe pains occasioned by cruel slashing off of his body part (finger) without anyone being held to account for the terrible and inhumane action.
Indeed, such act is not only counterproductive but also inimical to good governance and the rule of law, among others, to which Liberia fully subscribes.
