Monrovia – Despite repeated assurances given by the authority of the Liberia National Police (LNP) to curb armed robbery activities in Monrovia and its environs, armed robbery activities continues to be a threat to several communities, with the VOA Community on the highway of the Roberts International Airport.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]
“Suspect Johnny Mellish told the police/CSD investigation that while he was parking those items that they took from the victim’s house, his colleagues took the victims in the other rooms and raped them” – Liberian National Police
Four alleged robbers were reported to have carried out the robbery but one of them identified as 18-year-old Alex Lama, aliased “Pato” has been arrested according to the police in the September 28, 2016 armed robbery incident.
Others linked to the armed robbery who are reported to be on the run have been identified as Johnny Mellish, aliased Mad Dog; Madison, aliased Gio-boy; Richard, aliased Red-man and others to be identified.
Defendant Lama, who police say has admitted to the crime of armed robbery during investigation, has been formally charged with criminal conspiracy, rape, and armed robbery in violation of Chapter 10, 14 and 15 Sections 10.4, 14.70 of the revised Penal Code of the Republic of Liberia, while his alleged accomplices have been charged in absentia.
The complaint(name with -held) explained that on September 28, 2016 at 2;30 a.m. while in bed with his family a group of men armed with knives, cutlasses, single barrel guns and other deadly weapons forcibly entered his home by damaging the window bar at the kitchen window and placed them under gunpoint.
According to the complaint, the alleged armed robbers demanded money and other valuable during the incident while they searched the entire house and raped his girlfriend and sister.
Items named by the police to have been taken away from the home of the complaint by the alleged armed robbers were one flat screen Samsung TV, one multi-purpose video desk, three video desks, five pieces of cell phones, assorted wearing and LD$5,000 cash, set of gold and laptop and cash of US$700.
Police say that during its visit to the crime scene its was established that armed robbery took place at the home of the complaint as debris of broken bricks were seen on the floor due to the forceful extraction of the kitchen window bar.
“Suspect Johnny Mellish told the police/CSD investigation that while he was parking those items that they took from the victim’s house, his colleagues took the victims in the other rooms and raped them,” said the police.
Police also say that during its crime scene investigation, it was established that during the commission of the crime, the alleged rape victims were taken to the James Davis Memorial Hospital in Neezoe for treatment.
The VOA Community armed robbery incident, which is the latest incident since the coming in of a new leadership of the LNP, has happened at the time of police crackdown on street corners criminals most commonly referred to in Liberia as “Zogos’.
Though, Zogos can no longer be seen on Monrovia streets and its environs due to the police crackdown but their whereabouts and current activities remain a mystery to many ordinary Liberians.