Liberia: Mother of Rape Victim Writes First Lady for Assistance

Bettie K. Johnson Mbayo, [email protected]

Monrovia – The health of the 15-year-old girl who was raped by a 47-year-old man is deteriorating, according to her mother, who has written Liberia’s First Lady Clar Weah to help the kid get advanced medical treatment.

The girl was reportedly raped in the diplomatic enclave of Mamba Point in Monrovia by a man identified as Sean Tolbert.

The letter, dated April 30, states that the action of defendant Tolbert has caused her daughter physical and psychological trauma.

“In this light, I want to recognize the serious impact this crime has had on my family and hope to seek your assistance in this case in anyway possible in giving my family justice,” she wrote.

“Please help save the life of our daughter,” she added.

There were several photographs attached to the letter depicting the current condition of the victim.

Suspect Tolbert has been remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison pending court trial.

According to Police report, the victim was sexually abused both from her genital and anus.

Tolbert was arrested on April 27, based on a complaint filed by a victim’s mother, together with a medical report from the Star of the Sea Hospital, which established that the victim had been sexually abused.

Defendant Tolbert has persistently denied the allegation.

The police charge sheet stated that in early March the victim went to the defendant’s house and he offered her French fries and chocolate.

After eating, she reportedly felt dizzy and later fell asleep in the defendant’s room. The defendant allegedly took advantage of the situation to rape her.

The police said during preliminary investigations with witnesses, it was established that the victim went to the defendant’s home on several occasions and at sometimes with some of her friends.

“She was also accompanied by the defendant’s security officer, identified as Augustine Wleh, along with a description of the crime scene in the defendant’s room, where the probe discovered a flat screen video, black fan and white air-conditioned, as described by the victim, along with the medical report from Star of the Sea Hospital, which was enough to convince police that defendant Tolbert committed the offense and should be charged with statutory rape,” the charge sheet alleged.

“The evidence is consistent with the allegation levied against defendant Tolbert by the victim, witnesses’ testimonies, physical evidence and a photograph of the crime scene, along with a photo of the victim after the incident; the investigation has resolved to charge the defendant with statutory rape,” the police further said.