MONROVIA – Police in Grand Gedeh County have officially charged the Regional Commander of the National Security Agency (NSA) for Grand Gedeh County, Sampson Penue for allegedly killing the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alexander Saye.
It can be recalled that the lifeless body of Saye, who was also the Regional Director of the Police Support Unit (PSU) of the Liberia National Police (LNP) assigned in Grand Gedeh County, was found on Friday, November 27, at 7PM. It was discovered with bullet wounds.
Prior to his demise, DCP Saye served as Company Commander of the Police Support Unit (PSU), Deputy Chief, Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Chief of Emergency Response Unit, Regional Commander, Montserrado Region (U-142), and lastly served as Regional Commander for Region Four (Grand Gedeh and Sinoe Counties).
He served the LNP for over fourteen years as a tactically trained and disciplined Riot control and Senior Commanding Officer who served the Police Support Unit (PSU), the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the Patrol Division of the Liberia National Police.
Following reports that Saye was either killed, or mistakenly “shot himself”, authorities of the Liberia National Police (LNP) launched an investigation into the incident.
But according to Police Spokesman, Moses Carter NSA Regional Commander Pennue has been charged with the crime murder in connection with the death of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
He made the disclosure in an interview with FrontPage Africa via telephone on Monday, December 14.
He disclosed that police investigation conducted shows that Commander Pennue allegedly pulled his firearm at the victim, but the police did not establish why a live round was pulled at Saye, who also allegedly discharged his firearm
“Sampson Pennoh has been charged with murder and he is the NSA Commander for Grand Gedeh. We have gathered that he was the one who pulled the trigger, but what led to the trigger being pulled, we were not there but the fact established that his arm (gun) was discharged and that of Alexander Saye’s firearm was also discharged”.
“The fact that his arm was discharged, it points to a logical conclusion that he discharged the firearm that affected Alexander Saye”.
Carter pointed out that the LNP investigation did not establish whether or not there was a misunderstanding that ensued between the pair prior to the unfortunate incident.
Not accidental
Carter ruled out speculation that the alleged act was accidentally carried out by the NSA Commander for Grand Gedeh County.
According to him, all firearm carriers are trained and well knowledgeable about methods of preserving and discharging their weapons.
“Firearm carriers must be very cognizant and aware of how they handle firearms. When you handle a fire arm and someone is shot, there is nothing like it was done accidentally”-we will charge you with murder. There are assumptions that it was not done intentional, but the fact that a life has been taken away by an arm carrier is inescapable”.
Meanwhile, suspect Pennue has been reprimanded at the Zwedru Central Prison.
Carter, however, expressed the hope that the case will be transferred to Monrovia depending on the arguments of the lawyers.
The “happenings”
Quoting eyewitnesses in a statement posted on his official Facebook page recently, Dao R. Freeman, former Training Commandant Liberia National Police Training Academy, disclosed that on November 27 at about 5pm, Alexander Saye was sitting with friends on first step Street, Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County when one of his friends identified as one Nyonwin Deswah was celebrating her pre-birthday with others, including the victim.
The report divulged that while merrymaking, few of Saye friends, including suspect Sampson Pennue, one Rennie Scott agent of the Executive Protection Service(EPS), and one Joe also of the EPS, allegedly told the victim to go with them to “Batelgerm”, a gold mine area one hour drive away from Zwedru.
“They told him to go with his weapon apparently they noticed he never had. All four of them had pistols. So he went for his weapon home and came back. While they were about to leave, Nyonwin Deswah told Alex that it is too late for him to go in that bush but his friends said they were going to come back quick. The girls insisted to go along but they managed to convince them and left LRD 10,000 with them so they can be drinking”, the report maintained.
The report continued: “They left with two cars; A white pickup and a Toyota Land cruiser Jeep. Alex sat in the front seat of the Jeep while Sampson Pennue sat at the back with the driver and the other guys were in the pickup. They left around 5:30 pm. As soon as they reached, they all disembark their vehicles and spread themselves. Sampson Pennue and Alex were parallel but a lil distance. The rest were in front of Alex. They heard gun sounds and turned around and saw Alex crying Sampson you killed me oh…, Sampson you killed me oh at the same time bleeding”.
The report maintained that the victim’s shirt was soaked with blood and a lady came with a lappa and they tired the wound and put him at the back of the pickup.
“None of his friends sat with him at the back of the pickup. He wasn’t dead at that time but fighting life at the pickup butt. A fellow from the gold mine sat with him and they rushed him to a local clinic in (Zaryee Town). When they arrived, Miatta Zakpa the head nurse asked what happened to him but no one could tell her anything. She said what she noticed three of the men who brought him went behind the clinic and were secretly discussing”.
The report indicated that when the three unidentified men came back from discussing, the nurse reportedly told them that the man was already dead.
“They still didn’t tell the nurses what happened until they took his body at the hospital in Zwedru. His shirt got missing from the hospital. The crime scene was destroyed by using shovel to remove his blood that was wasted. Sampson Pennue went home with his weapon to clear or change the magazine and came back later. Alex phones and keys were given to the superintendent instead of the police Commander,” the report concluded.