Monrovia – Police in Monrovia have charged the 36-year-old son of Defense Minister Brownie Samukai in the shooting incident that took place at the Tropicana Beach in the Thinker’s Village along the Robertfield Highway that left one injured.

Report by Kennedy L.Yangian kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com

Michael Samukai was charged by the Police on Friday for shooting Zardee Andrews on his neck and was taken to the Paynesville Magistrate Court and later taken to the Monrovia Central Prison, where he is currently held.

With the charge of criminal attempt to commit murder, Samukai also faces the charges of aggravated assault and illegal possession of small arm.

 Police say from its investigation, based on inquiries and witnesses’ accounts, Samukai shot Andrews at the birthday party of his wife—Charlotte Samukai—out of jealousy having accused her of having an affair with Andrews.   

A Police charge sheet in the possession of FrontPage Africa, Samukai arrived at his wife’s birthday party on September 13, 2016 on the Tropicana Beach after not meeting her home. He did not know her whereabouts.   

“While on the Tropicana Beach at 9:00 pm celebrating her natal day with her friend Sando Piarce she received a call from Zardee Andrews wishing her a happy birthday and she told him of their present on the beach this is how he came to the beach to meet them,” the Police charge sheet said.

“After Andrew arrived and was sitting with them few minutes later defendant Michael Samukai arrived and questioned him: ‘Don’t you know this is my wife?’ and Andrews answered ‘Yes but she is just my friend,’” the Police charge sheet further says.

It narrated: “Iif she is your friend, then what are you doing here with her at this time of the night?’ Victim Andrews then replied: ‘I am married; my wife picture is in my phone’. Defendant Samukai seized the phone and walked away.”

“Investigation furthered that while the tussle was ongoing, defendant Samukai pulled out a black and silver Fn-45 American pistol from under his coat and pointed same at the victim in the interim while struggling over the weapon, he shot the victim and the bullet penetrated the victim’s neck which are the entry and exit wounds,” it said.

Police also indicated that its investigative findings established that the fire arm used in the commission of the crime is not registered, which contravenes the 2015Firearms and Ammunition Control Act of Liberia.  

“I felt very bad when I visited the hospital and saw the victim, I wish him well and speedy recovery,” said Defense Minister Brownie Samukai.

“That man lying in that hospital could be my son or any other Liberian,” he added, re-echoing the fact that his son is an adult and should be judged by his actions.   

Monrovia – The son of Liberia’s Defense Minister has shot a man identified as Zardee Andrews on a local Beach on the outskirt of Monrovia.

Report by Henry Karmo – henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com

Michael Samukai, son of Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai who manages chains of businesses belonging to the Minister accordingly shot Andrews Wednesday attempting to kill his victim in ‘Thinker Village’ along the Robertsfield highway.

According to family sources close to the victim the attempted murder incident occurred when Charlotte Samukai, the wife of Michael, was celebrating her birthday and invited Andrews and others to her birthday celebration at the Tropicana Beach.

In a statement issued by Family members Wednesday, a day after the incident, they said they were constrained and with heavy heart to inform the President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Minister of Justice and all Civil Society actors in Liberia about what they described as the devilish, tyrannical, and attempted murderous attitude carried out by Michael Samukai, the son of Defense Minister of Liberia.

The statement indicated “On September 13, between the hours of 9-10 pm Michael Samukai-son of the defense minister shot our brother Zardee Andrews in his neck attempting to kill him at the Tropicana Beach located in Thinker Village along the RIA highway.

But with God being God, the bullet, according to X-ray report has passed through his neck. The level of damage caused in the neck of our brother is a matter of threatening concerns to the family”. 

The family noted that as far as the victim, Zardee is concern there is no intimacy between him and Charlotte the wife of the son of Minister Samukai who according to sources has been in an unstable relationship with his wife.

Accordingly, Michael has been in the constant habit of accusing and threatening men seen around Charlotte.

“Hence, on this faithful day of her birthday when Michael Samukai arrived at the birthday‘s party at the Beach and met Zardee and others sitting with Charlotte, a quarrel ensued as to who invited who to the party.

During the quarrel Michael immediately took out his pistol “45” and shot our brother in the back of his neck”, the statement from family of the victim indicated.

Family members of the victim who is currently admitted at the John F. Kennedy hospital want their relative to be flown abroad to seek advanced medical treatment.

They have expressed serious concern about the life and security of their injured relative and have called on Michael’s father Minister Samukai and the Police to turn over the living body of Michael to the court of law to be persecuted.

They are also demanding the Samukai family to underwrite the medical cost and ensure that the victim is discharged without any physical and or internal problem in his neck for the rest of his lifetime.

The family continued – “It is our quest that Justice be dispensed in this matter as it is shocking to us as to why the Defense Minister son who is not a military personnel and or an assigned fire-arm.

It is our hope and wish of the family that this case involving the Defense Minister’s son Michael Samukai will not be swept under the carpet. Justice is our quest in this matter”.

The whereabouts of Michael remains unknown to the family, upon reporting the case to the Police at the Liberia National Police Headquarters.

The family said they have been told that Defense Minister (Samukai’s) family has already informed the Police about the case though Michael is yet to be arrested.

When contacted Minister Samukai said he feels sorry for the victim, saying it could be his son.

“I felt very bad when I visited the hospital and I am very sorry and I wish him well and speedy recovery. That man lying in the hospital could be my son or any other Liberian”, Minister Samukai said.

Minister Samukai said his son is a grown man and should be held accountable for his action.

“What I want to make very clear is this my son is a grown man. He is not 10 years old.

“He is a 36 year-old man, so he should be held accountable for his action, therefore the Ministry of Defense will do nothing to hinder the due process. He must bear the consequences of his action. I want to make that very clear”, he said.

In angry words, Minister Samukai said: “So, I don’t want anybody saying the Minister of Defense did that or that the Ministry of Defense didn’t do s’’’’t’.

The man who did something is the man sitting in custody. I am not concern about status. I did not commit the offense if my son had done something stupid I cannot be held accountable for his action and nothing about me should hinder the due process of law”.

There are concerns that it is a scaring situation why Michael who is not a security personnel was in possession of firearm.

One source hinted FPA that Michael about a year ago was involved in similar act past, where he assaulted a Police officer with a pistol leaving the officer with injuries.

The drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia has left many Liberians wondering that respect for the rule of law will be a major problem.

Liberia has history where security officials and those connected with them disregard the rule of law and in many instances go with impunity.

Recently, a former official of the Liberian National Police Samuel Nimley shot a resident of the same Thinker village area where the Police announced he has been arrested and forwarded to court but Nimley is still moving freely.

Monrovia – The Ministry of National Defense says it has noted with utmost dismay a barrage of publications in recent times by a newspaper relative to what the paper published as late arrival of Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Daniel D. Ziankahn at an official United Nations (UN) program.

In a statement signed by David K. Dahn, Assistant Defense Minister/Public Affairs the Ministry stated that the lifting of the story has been followed by series of editorials on the Army General.

“The Ministry of National Defense wishes to respond to those publications (June2, June 6, and June 13, 2016) by providing the following traceable facts for public verdict:

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) invited Brigadier General Daniel D. Ziankahn at a ceremony slated for Friday, 27 May, 2016, 0900 hours at the Pan African Plaza in Monrovia as part of a global program to honor peacekeepers”, the statement issued by the Ministry stated.

Providing clarification, the Ministry stated that the Chief-of-Staff (COS) Ziankahn arrived half hour ahead of the 0900 hours commencement timetable, was received by UNMIL Force Commander Major General Salihu Zaway Uba and both men proceeded upstairs in M/Gen Uba’s office to discuss UNMIL’s transition and other official matters.

According to the Defense Ministry at the appropriate time  both generals were advised by UNMIL’s  protocol to move downstairs and as a matter of military courtesy, were rendered the customary ‘military rendition’ by the band and troops.

“With all due respect to the UN, it was not the intent of the Honorable Defense Minister to appear late at the official function, but it was due to an official representation on behalf of the Commander-in Chief at a funeral of the son of the venerated Judge Luvenia-Ash Thompson.

Understandably, Minister Samukai was several minutes beyond schedule”, added the Defense Ministry statement.

The Ministry further explained that at no time, neither Brigadier General Ziankahn nor any member of his office staff ever established any communication link (whether through letter or phone calls) with the Daily Observer Publisher Kenneth Y.Best, inviting or summoning him.

Continued the statement “It was Assistant Defense Minister/Public Affairs, David K.Dahn and later, Deputy Defense Minister/Administration and then acting  Defense  Minister, Joseph F. Johnson, who established phone contacts with Mr. Best regarding Daily Observer’s publications while clarifying that the requested meeting was to come and see the ‘Acting Minister’ to state the facts.

Mr. Best and Minister Dahn had agreed to a proposed meeting on Monday June 6, 2016. That meeting didn’t materialize because Mr. Best claimed that he was advised by his lawyer not to do so. Mr. Best, however, advised the Defense Authority to do a rebuttal and the Daily Observer will publish it”.

The Ministry has maintained that the Armed Forces of Liberia remain un-detracted, professionally focused and committed to executing its mandate within the ambit of the constitution and in consonance with UN as UNMIL draws down.