Liberia: Letter to Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus

Complaint to Solicitor General Cephus 

Dear SG Cephus:

I present to you complaints and wish to bring to your official attention the murder of scores of innocent citizens in Belle District, Gbarpolu County, which the Justice system has failed to address so far. 

These wanton murder cases began when Mulbah Manow was appointed as District Commissioner of Belle District. Since Commissioner Mulbah Manow began presiding over the local government of the Belle District, these murders keep going unabated and there are cases where Commissioner Manow has been linked directly. A case in point is the murder of Quaqua Sesay, a citizen of Kpawolozu Town, Belle District.

The late Quaqua Sesay was arrested for bridging traditional order and was sent to Belle Baloma Town, to the office of Belle District Commissioner Mulbah Manow. Quaqua Sesay was kept in custody by Samuel Larky, Community Police Commander of the Belle District, pending the arrival of Commissioner Manow. Commissioner Manow returned from Monrovia and conducted a general briefing meeting at which time he (Commissioner Manow) was briefed by the authority he left in charge. The culprit, Quaqua Sesay was then turned over to District Commissioner Mulbah Manow. Later that day, Commissioner Manow ordered Community Police Commander Samuel Larky to institute daily corporal punishment against Quaqua Sesay, without any form of investigation or desire to forward the culprit to the LNP or Court.

Quaqua Sesay was later (the same day) taken to the Commissioner Compound to brush portion of the Compound in Belle Baloma Town, District Headquarters. From that day and date, Quaqua Sesay did not return. When efforts were made about Quaqua Sesay’s whereabout, District Commissioner Manow reluctantly informed the concern citizens that Quaqua Sesay had gone missing. When Commissioner Manow refused to order a search for the missing culprit Sesay, as the custom demands, some citizens volunteered to assist in a search effort. A week later, Quaqua Sesay’s lifeless body was discovered under a palm tree, within closed proximity of Commissioner compound where Sesay has been assigned.

During Police investigation, Belle District Community Police or watch forum Commander Samuel Larky who escorted Quaqua Sesay to his daily corporal assignment, David Sumo, Town Chief of Belle Baloma Town, and Sumo Nyanquoi, Clan Chief, all confessed to the commission of the crime of murdering Quaqua Sesay, but they implicated Commissioner Manow as the chief sponsor of their action.  Commissioner Mulbah Manow was arrested, charged and placed behind bars in Bopolu City pending Court appearance. Regrettably, after 17 days in jail, Commissioner Manow was released by the County Attorney of Gbarpolu County.

 As if this was not enough judiciary mockery against justice, the case was purposely delayed for two consecutive Court terms sitting and thereby paved the way for the release of suspects Samuel Larky, David Sumo and Sumo Nyanquoi. The above named confessed killers are currently out of jail and roaming the streets of Bopolu.

While on parole, Commissioner Manow returned to Belle District, thus paving the way for the arrangement of new crimes. On November 2^nd, 2021, James Payne of Golita Town was reportedly murdered in a ritualistic manner.

Varney Yarwa, a resident of Lowoma Town, in the Gbandi Region of the Belle District, was implicated in the murder of James Payne by Darlington Howard, the main alleged killer of James Payne. Commissioner Manow then ordered the arrest of Varney Yarwa. Commissioner Manow escorted two armed Liberia National Police (LNP) Officers and a Community Police or watch forum officer to effect the arrest of varney Yarwa. 

The team comprising of Commissioner Manow, the armed LNP officers and the Community Police or watch forum officer traveled from the town of Kalata through Gbeyankai then to Lowoma and effected the arrest of suspect Varney Yarwa. For obvious reasons, Commissioner Manow stopped in Gbeyankai Town.

The account is, in Lowoma town, the two Community Police or watch forum officer (Zubah Yarsiah and Junior Yarsiah) arrested and hand cuffed Varney Yarwa. While in hand cuff, the watch forum officers (Zubah Yarsiah and Junior Yarsiah) openly and loudly told family members of suspect Varney Yarwa that “Varney will never return to Lowoma again.” They then passed through Gatima Town, Sasazu Town, Guowoma Town and onward to Gbeyankai Town, where they found the waiting Commissioner Manow. The entire team then, along with the culprit headed for Belle Baloma Town, through Kalata Town. Upon reaching the suburb of KalataTtown, or within two minutes to the town, a gun short was heard. 

Because of the proximity of the gun shot, some men from Kalata Town rushed to the scenes. Their account is that they met suspect Varney Yarwa lying dead in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds in his stomach (see photo attached)

 At this point, Commissioner manow, according to eyewitnesses, explained that they had come under attack by strange men who shot and killed suspect Varney Yarwa. Following the flimsy explanation by the Commissioner, the LNP officers and the Community Police or watch forum Officer, fled the scenes of the murder and went to Toikai (Tegelee Town), rather than returning (for further action) to the Belle District Headquarters of Belle Baloma Town. This route (Gatima Town, Sasazu Town, Guowoma Town, Gbeyankai Town, Kenata Town onward to District Headquarters Town of Belle Baloma), was not only the longest but it was a source of suspicion and confusion. There is a shortest route directly from Lowoma Town (where Varney Yarwa resided) to Belle Baloma. That distance is about four hours walk as compared to the nearly 20 hours walking distance route that the Commissioner and his team used. One would wonder why the Commissioner and his team chose to use the longest and unusual route, especially when they had to take the suspect near the first crime scenes where family members of the late James Payne resided.  

Eye witnesses narrated that it can be recalled in Gbeyankai Town that while

Commissioner Manow waited for the Police to effect the arrest of suspect Varney

Yarwa, he (Manow) was in close discussion with Peter Gbenjay and Joseph Wankollie. There, the plot to murder the suspect is believed to have been made. Before the LNP Officers and Community Police Officer left Gbeyankai Town, they, Peter Gbenjay and Joseph Wankollie reportedly departed Gbeyankai Town ahead of Commissioner Manow and team and went to Golita Town. Peter Gbenjay and Joseph Wankollie reportedly recruited two additional manpower namely Emmanuel Payne and Morris Payne. From Golita Town, all four men well-armed with single barrel guns and cutlasses proceeded to Kalata Town, where they portrayed themselves so fearfully as in the manner of rebel fighters. They caught the attention of town dwellers, for their unusual behavior. Eye witnesses believed, the four men then left the town of Kalata and laid an arm bush to carry on their murder which I strongly believed was intended as a sabotage of the murder case of James Payne.

           The Commissioner, according to insiders, believed Varney Yarwa would have exposed the entire saga and circumstances regarding the killings in the District. They fear that Varney Yarwa would have implicated big names, including the Commissioner himself. 

Interestingly, following the murder of Varney Yarwa at the suburb of Kalata Town, the same four men, Peter Gbenjay, Joseph Wankollie, Emmanuel Payne and Morris Payne reappeared in Kalata Town banishing their weapons and issuing threats. This unusual behavior sent scores of citizens fleeing into the bushes for their lives and safety. In the midst of all of this confusion, Belle District Commissioner Mulbah Manow abandoned the District and left for Monrovia. 

Some traditional elders and the Township Commissioner of Belle Fassama Township Jeremiah Flomo stepped in and administered the affairs of the Belle District while Commissioner Manow was at large. 

In the process, the elders and Jeremiah Flomo were able to contain the situation until one of the alleged Killers, Morris Payne turned himself over to Authorities stationed in Belle Baloma. Later, on the day of Morris surrender, the PSU officers that were dispatched from Bopolu City to the Belle District arrived and picked up Morris Payne and returned to Bopolu City, where Morris is currently being charged and forwarded to Court.

Hon. SG, I am constrained to bring these fearful activities to your official attention, because I am of the fear that the families of these many victims of these wonton killings may likely group themselves and begin to plan revenge. Many of these alleged killers are walking around free, while their victims are grieving on the daily basis. These victims need justice. 

Below is the list of some of the killings that I can recall in the Belle District.

1. The killing of a lady and her two kids travelling to Golita Town
2. The killing of 3-year-old girl in Belle Baloma Town
3. The killing of 10-year-old Borbor Kuku in Belle Fassama Township. Borbors mother is grieving on the daily basis and demanding justice 
4. The shooting and killing of Abraham Mulbah (DJ Karlie) in KB village in Belle Fassama
5. The shooting and killing of a gold boy (Gio by tribe) on the gold mine between Belle Fassama Town and Belle Yalla Township
6. The mysterious disappearance and subsequent death of Musa (Kpala) in Belle Fassama Town
7. The mysterious disappearance of Memei Bonnah between Belle Baloma Town and Kenata Town
8. The Mysterious disappearance of Farlo Sumo in Belle Fassama Town
9. The shooting and killing of gold boy in Belle Yalla Township
10.  The alleged killing of a gold boy (Mano tribe) on camp Gbarteh Road
11.  The alleged killing of Tekeh Wankollie in Belle Yalla Township
12.  The mysterious disappearance of Francis Sirleaf (K. Jr) in Karmon Base
13.  The Killing of Quaqua Sesay in Belle Baloma Town (Commissioner Manow was charged in that case and served 17 days in prison)
14.  The Killing of Latta Bema in Belle Baloma Town
15.  The killing of James Payne in Golita Town
16.  The killing of Varney Yarwa in Kalata Town
17. The killing of Kennedy in Golita town

There are many more other stories that are yet to be discovered. This is a grave human rights issue that needs to be brought to the attention of the world. 

I am calling for the in-depth investigation and prosecution of Belle District Commissioner Mulbah Manow and also recommend a serious look at the 16th Judicial Circuit Court files concerning the reported cases from Belle District. I am sure that investigating these grave human rights violations will expose lots of things that might help bring relieve to the victims’ families and help restore some sanity in the Belle District.   

On March 18, 2022, the 16 Judicia Circuit Court in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County, issued a Court order of arrest against Belle District Commissioner Mulbah Manow (copy attached) to be arrested and taken to Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County, to face his day(s) in Court. It will interest you honorable SG to know that up to present, Belle District Commissioner Mulbah Manow has deliberately refused to honor the Court Order. It will also interest you to know that on April 15, 2022, fugitive Mulbah Manow was seen at a road dedication program in the Belle District Headquarters of Belle Baloma. During that program, he openly confirmed and admitted that there is a court order or arrest warrant out for his arrest and that he is very worry. Mulbah Manow’s refusal to honor the Court order and the deliberate refusal or failure of the 16^th Judicial Circuit Court to have fugitive Mulbah Manow arrested is a blatant and fragrant disrespect to the Judicial system.  

Hon. SG, this narrative is just a synopsis of the many stories from Belle District under the leadership of Commissioner Mulbah Manow. I am attaching some copies of some of the stories that other writers have been publishing on the Gbarpolu Forum. A facebook group where issues about Gbarpolu County are usually posted.

I look forward to a detailed investigation of the issues raised and hope that Justice will be delivered.

Yours truly,

Sam K. Zinnah

Concern Citizen

Gbarpolu County

Tel: 0880335358

        0776388465

Email: szinnah@gmail.com

  Cc:

1. Minister of Justice, Republic of Liberia
2. Chairman, Independent Human Rights Commission, Republic of Liberia
3. Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
4. United States Embassy 
5. European Union
6. Human Rights Monitor, United Methodist Church