Bong County: Man Sent to Court for setting ablaze Rep. Marvin Cole’s Cocoa Farm
Police in Bong County have sent a 25-year-old man to court for allegedly setting ablaze Rep. J Marvin Cole’s cocoa plantation.
By: Edwin N. Khakie
Bong County, February 10, 2025/ The suspect, identified as #Musa_Izako, was on Friday, February 7, charged with disorderly conduct and arson by officers at the Gbartala Police Station in Yelequelleh District.
Providing details of the incident, Gbartala Police Commander explained that on Thursday, February 6, Bong County police received a call from #Mr_Paul_Darwokala, a resident of Cole’s Village, requesting immediate police intervention.
According to the police report, Darwokala was patrolling from Gbondio to Cole’s Village when he noticed a motorbike abandoned on the roadside. Suspicious, he decided to conduct a surveillance patrol.
It was during this patrol that Darwokala allegedly saw Izako coming from the bush and setting fire to the plantation.
Realizing he had been spotted, the suspect reportedly fled the scene on his motorbike.
Izako sped off on his motorbike as Darwokala chased him in a taxi, sounding the horn repeatedly. However, the alleged suspect eventually ran out of gasoline, abandoned the motorbike, and escaped into the bush.
Darwokala then called for help, and community members mobilized to assist in apprehending the suspect.
Izako was later arrested and turned over to the police along with his motorbike.
During a search of Izako’s belongings, police found a wallet containing six passport-size photos, a national ID card, and a lighter.
When questioned, Izako denied the allegations, claiming he had gone to buy palm wine in a nearby village.
However, he could not name the village or produce the palm wine he claimed to have purchased.
When asked why he fled the scene upon seeing Darwokala, Izako reportedly remained silent.
He did, however, confirm ownership of the wallet and its contents, including the lighter found inside.
Based on the eyewitness testimony and the evidence recovered, police charged Izako with arson and disorderly conduct and forwarded the case to the 9th Judicial Circuit Court for prosecution.
The suspect is said to be a resident of Suakoko City.
Following the incident, Representative Marvin Cole took to his Facebook page late Thursday, February 6, to express his frustration over the destruction of his plantation.
He revealed that his cocoa farm, consisting of 30,000 trees, had been set ablaze by an unknown criminal.
The lawmaker disclosed that he had invested over US$250,000 into the farm.
The case now rests in the hands of the court, which is expected to determine Izako’s fate.
