Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – A Liberian journalist, Wremongar Joe of Prime FM based in Monrovia was on Saturday, May 7 allegedly manhandled some individuals allegedly acting on the command of Grand Bassa County lawmaker, Jeh Byron Browne (Liberty Party, District #4).
Minutes after the incident, Joe told a Frontpageafrica reporter that he lost his US$540.00 when he was attacked while his smart phone was smashed by Hon. Browne.
Journalist Joe was seen video recording a brawl between the lawmaker and some youth of electoral district four during the inter-districts football match at the Doris Williams Sports Stadium in Buchanan when he was attacked by three persons including a man identified as smith peters – who claims to be working for Representative Browne.
“Smith peters and three other men engaged me aggressively, beat on me and demanded me to unconditionally delete the photos and voice from my recorder, camera and phone,” he explained.
“When I refused and told them that I am a journalist, they pressed on and held my private-part as the individual named smith peter put his hands in my pockets and collected my phone, Nokia Lumia 926, Olympus digital voice recorder and camera, including US$540 which was intended to survey my father’s land in wee- statutory district.”
The incident which has been reported to the Grand Bassa Police detachment is sparking debate in Buchanan City as well as Hon. Browne’s district and journalists in the county continue to show support for their colleague as they demand a full investigation by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
“I have already reported the situation to the PUL and I hope they intervene, although I will also be taking legal action against smith peters who i think is a thug working for our representative.”
The manhandling of reporter Wremongar Joe has renewed debate about the vulnerability of journalists in the county and other parts of the country ahead of the 2017 general and Presidential elections. There have been frequent attacks and threats by politicians against journalists in the country.
Couple of years ago, similar situation involving journalist Hector Mulbah of Radio Gbehzohn based in Buchanan City and Representative Gabriel Smith of electoral District #3 escalated resulting in the lawmaker allegedly ordering the ransacking and destruction of the station’s equipment.
Journalist Joe told reporters that he was not physically attacked by the lawmaker but his attackers were acting on the orders of the lawmaker.
“Hon. Browne did not physically attack me but just before the guys attacked me and took my phone from me and my money, I heard him say that they should do anything to anybody and he will pay because he’s a lawmaker,” Joe told reporters.
According to him, the Police are preparing to send the case to court. “The Police say they cannot arrest the man (Smith Peters) who attacked me because he’s working for a lawmaker and it is out of their jurisdiction to arrest an employee of a lawmaker,” Joe added.
When FPA contacted Hon. Browne, he couldn’t confirm if Peters work for him or not. But openly admitted on a local radio Monday morning that he deliberately smashed the reporter’s smart phone, adding: “I’m proud to say that I damaged his phone.”
Hon. Browne further accused Joe of frequently insulting and maligning his character on social media. When FPA sought more response from the Liberty Party lawmaker, he declined to speak to the issue claiming that the cellular phone network in Buchannan was weak and he could get the signal well.
The Prime FM employee who hails from hon. Browne’s constituency (District #3) claims his life was threatened by the lawmaker on Monday morning after he attended a live community radio program to explain the incident.