Monrovia – The Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice Monday, October 7, ordered the detention of four persons including a taxi driver for allegedly taking part in recent protest in Monrovia.
They will be incarcerated at the Monrovia Central Prison after Police charged them for taking part in the October 3 riot at the St. Joseph Catholic Hospital in Sinkor.
The four persons identified as Emmanuel Doeyue,18; Jerry Paye, 20, Mustapha Kromah,40, and Richard Paye, 38, were all taken from the LNP Headquarters on Monday morning to the Monrovia City Court before the Magistrate ordered their detention.
Police had charged the four persons for rioting, obstructing highways and other public passages, disorderly conduct, aggravated assault and criminal mischief.
The Police claimed in its charge sheet that the four persons were part of a crowd of angry protestors demanding the release of one Jestina Taylor Ghartey, who was undergoing treatment at the Catholic church-run hospital.
They are accused of being part of individuals who allegedly set up road blocks and threw stones that resulted into four police officers sustaining bodily injuries.
The police further stated during investigation with the Defendants that they all denied participating in the protest.
However, two of the Defendants Emmanuel Doeyue and Jerry Paye said they are residents of Sophia Community while Richard Paye and Mustapha Kromah told investigators they lived in Mamba Point and Bardnesville respectively.
Taxi driver Kromah is quoted by the police as saying that he admitted been in the area but his vehicle was being chartered by some individuals who later joined the protest.
The legal counsel for the four Defendants, Cllr. Findley Karngar was seen in the court trying to secure a criminal appearance bond for his clients, but the process did not materialize.
“I tried to secure a bond for those charged but it was not possible,” said Cllr. Karngar.
Some family members of the Defendants told FrontPageAfrica that the magistrate had refused to sign the bail bond for the defendants.
When contacted by a group of judicial reporters, Magistrate Ernest Bana rubbished the allegation from the family members, adding that the defendants were ordered detained for their own safety so that the court can ascertain whether they took part in the protest.