Monrovia – Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean has told the plenary of the Liberian Senate that suspects arrested in the murder of the German investor in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, are perennial and repeated offenders. The Justice Minister further informed the lawmakers that because of alleged offenders’ past, the government of Liberia will push for a speedy trial.
He also attributed the killing of the German to robbery, and no other motive. Interestingly, according to reports quoting the wife of the late German, her husband was found dead at his residence unsearched with everything, including cash, still on him.
The Minister made the statement when he appeared before the plenary of the Senate on request by Senator Jonathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa County. The Minister was invited to give update on the status of the investigation into murder of the German and other murder cases around the country.
“The defenders in the murder of the German investor are said to be perennial and repeated offenders. Unfortunately, they served their term and under the law they were released. We are hoping that this time around, they will be given speedy trial and the fact that they are repeated offenders will also be submitted to the court and as soon as there is a verdict, we will be removing them from the system. We will be removing them from the public and in fact our prisons in Monrovia are overcrowded so we will be taking them to Grand Gedeh County.”
In response to the Minister’s plans to send them to Grand Gedeh County should be convicted by the court, Grand Gedeh Senator Marshall Dennis raised the concerns of Grand Gedians, especially those in the surroundings of the prison facilities, being living in fear of released prisoners, who have stayed in the area after they have served their prison sentences. According to him, the presence of these former convicts is panicking to them.
According to him, his fellow kinsmen and women in the county want government send those people back to where they were arrested.
“The defenders in the murder of the German investor are said to be perennial and repeated offenders. Unfortunately, they served their term and under the law they were released. We are hoping that this time around, they will be given speedy trial and the fact that they are repeated offenders will also be submitted to the court and as soon as there is a verdict, we will be removing them from the system. We will be removing them from the public and in fact our prisons in Monrovia are overcrowded so we will be taking them to Grand Gedeh County.”
– Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean
Alleged Murderer
Recently, a 38-year-old man identified as Emmanuel Kollie, who is linked to the death of a German national, was arrested.
According to Frederick Nappy, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Bong, Kollie was arrested in the LPMC Road Community on Sunday following a tip-off.
“Based on directives and credible intelligence received about Emmanuel, who had been on the run since the murder of the German expatriate, we were on the alert,” Nappy had told FrontPageAfrica.
According to Nappy, Emmanuel admitted to the commission of the crime but the police was not able to establish the motive behind the killing.
He further said a pistol loaded with two live cartridges were taken from Emmanuel.
The suspect had been on the wanted list of the police for various offences such as armed robbery and violent attacks.
Juergen Schedema, the murdered German, who was the Log Yard Manager of the ICC, was discovered dead early morning Wednesday, January 22, at the back of the log yard, which is located in Big Joe Town – more than a mile away from the port city of Buchanan.
Other Murder Cases
Providing updates on other cases, Justice Minister Dean also told senators that while the government has concluded investigations into some, others are still unconcluded due to limited resources.
On Corkrum
Also providing update about Ms. Ellen Y. Kweme Corkrum case, he told senators that he had no knowledge that the government has dropped charges against Ms. Corkrum and everything that has been said, and done about her case is the doing of the Solicitor General.