The New Dawn Liberia | Truly Independent

Police authorities in Monrovia have suspended four officers indefinitely for failure to register a rape case thus, attempting to compromise the matter. Police officers Joe Karnkeh, Lawrence Padmore, Dolinji Kollie and Jonathan Tengbeh were reportedly assigned at the Zone 4 Police Station in Gardnersville, outside the capital.

The Liberia National Police spokesman George Bardue said, the suspended officers have been disrobed and detained at the National Police Headquarters on Capitol Hill, Monrovia as they face investigation at the Professional Standards Division.

Bardue said the officers are also accused of disrespecting the complainant of an alleged rape case, who was harshly thrown out of the police station late Monday evening without her case being recorded.

In a statement issued in Monrovia Tuesday, Bardue said the Director of Police Chris Massaquoi has warned officers to desist from demanding money to register cases as doing so would leave administration with no option but to deal with such officer.

It is yet to be established what may have led the suspended officers to attempt compromising the registration of the rape case, neither was it stated whether or not they had requested for money from the rape victim to register her case.

Director Massaquoi is quoted as stressing that any officer caught commercializing the registration of cases will be dealt with harshly in keeping with the police Duty Manual and the laws of Liberia.

The police boss added that no money is required for reporting any case at a police station or depot, and the public has been encouraged to report any officer, who requests for money to register cases to the Professional Standards Division for drastic action.