Monrovia – Monica King, 30, was apprehended by plain-clothes Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), backed by few other uniformed-colleagues, during the late evening hours of July 15, while sitting at her residence in Sinkor, Monrovia.
She is a mother of two children, ages 9 and 11, and the wife of the former driver of police Inspector General Patrick Sudue, Mr. Prince Lee Barclay.
Barclay is currently in the United States for studies.
Reasons behind the arrest of Monica were not made known until she was whisked off in a white jeep and taken to the Airfield Police Station in Monrovia.
Monica explained: “I asked them why I am being arrested; they said that when we get to the police station they will explain why I was arrested. They took me to the Airfield Depot and I slept there. I asked them again why I was arrested and who brought my complaint, but they told me that my arrest was from high authority” Monica told FrontPage Africa in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, August 19. By 7: o’clock, they took me to Central (police headquarters) in the morning. The guy that took me there called one 105 in my present and 105 said they should take me to R1 office. After they took me to R1 office, he (R1) said they should disrobe and put me behind bars. They did not put me in female prison; they put me in male prison. There were I was the whole day and couldn’t see my complainant or know why I was arrested for”.
Monica was later released from further detention, after her family members secured the service of a lawyer.
Threats
Monica told FPA that in recent time she has been receiving a series of threatening text messages and calls from unknown persons.
One of the alleged threatening text messages in the possession of FrontPage Africa sent from 0778008981 on July 22 reads: “U think u can hide from us. We will still get u n your guy even if he is not in LIB n this time we will not miss. Don’t forget this is LIB”.
She further claimed that the unknown texters and callers have been consistently threatening to eliminate her husband. “Before my arrest, I had been receiving series of threatening messages and calls. I can remember two different times someone called me and said that if my husband comes to Liberia, they will get rid of my husband because he is publishing things that he does not know about them”.
“Really, I don’t know what is happening because my husband didn’t tell me anything about this particular government in question. I don’t know why I was jailed or keep receiving threatening messages”.
Monica says that though she was not physically assaulted while in the custody of the police, harsh words were “misused” against her while in detention.
“They did not force me in the car, but when they went to arrest me, I was in lappa and blouse. For me to go in my room and change to follow them, they said I shouldn’t go and change before I run away. They called me criminal and used all kinds of words on me. I can’t just understand why I was jailed. Since I left jail, I been receiving messages that the way they missed me, they will not miss me for the second time and if I think my husband can run away, he will not run away”.
Plea
Monica pointed out that she and her children are currently living in fear as a result of the situation. The situation has compelled Madam King to vacate your home in Sinkor for an unknown area.
She has called on Justice Minister, Counselor Frank Musa Dean, the Association of Female Lawyers (AFELL), and other women and pressure groups to intervene into the matter. “Because of this, I have to take my children to my mom. I am not home right now. I am just in and out. I want the Justice Minister and others to look into my case and let justice be done because I need my children around me. Where I am staying now; I am not at peace. I want for God to help touch their hearts at least let justice be done because, I am a female and I have children. My life now is at threat. People keep sending all kinds of messages and I don’t want to lose my life”.
Monica further stated that she does not intend to compromise the matter for fear of losing her life, or the lives of her children and husband. “If I can find a lawyer for this case; for the lawyer to stop these people from making me to live in fear.”
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica recently at the LNP headquarters on the Capitol Bye-Pass in Monrovia recently, one of the Directors of Criminal Investigation, Monroe Dennis (R1) admitted that Madam King was arrested and taken to the LNP headquarters for questioning but disclosed that the arrest came as a result of a complaint filed by a lady identified as Passion, a resident of Canada, against the husband of Madam King, Mr. Barclay-the former driver of IG Sudue.
According to him, the complainant reported to the police that she was allegedly duped by Mr. Barclay and his wife who initially requested her to process documents for his travel to Canada on a permanent status.
“This lady called Passion has gone more than 95% into processing the documents for Monica’s husband, Barclay to travel to Canada; but later on, they told the woman to send the documents before they could send the money to her. I think the money was around US$8000 plus. So, the woman said ‘no’ that was not what we agreed upon. Passion felt that she was being duped by these people and so, she reported the matter to the police. We arrested Monica for questioning; but we allowed her lawyer to sign for her and bring her back upon our request. As we speak, we have not called her back yet since she left”.
Monica, however, denied knowledge of her or Mr. Barclay requesting Passion to commence the processing of the documents for her husband to travel on her expense to be reimbursed. Instead she said that an offer was made by the lady in question to help expedite the travel of her husband, Mr. Barclay to Canada, but no agreement was reached or finalized for the lady to foot the expense of the documents processing.