After 3 days in jail, blind officials set free

Two officials from the Hope in God Association of the Blind (HIGAB) whose names are being withheld have been released from a police probe surrounding alleged theft after being kept in jail for three days.

HIGAB Executive Director Mr. Johnson K. Dorbor told this paper on Tuesday, 26 June that the Association’s Secretary General and the Office Assistant were arrested, detained and investigated by the Liberia National Police (LNP) over the alleged theft of important office equipment from HIGAB office.

But Mr. Dorbor says the Association was informed by the police that the two accused officials denied their involvement in the theft of the missing office equipment and were therefore released.

The office equipment that were said to be missing include two Laptops estimated at USD $1,300.00, a Desktop Computer donated to HIGAB by International NGO Handicap International and one HP Printer, among others.

Mr. Dorbor says they were probed at the LPRC Police Depot in Gardnersville because they were the last two persons that used the Association’s office on 9 May.
Mr. Dorbor says the theft has caused a serious setback to the work of the entity, complaining that important documents, information and blind members’ identification cards stored in the stolen office equipment were taken away.

He adds that with the assistance of a philanthropist, HIGAB was able to purchase one Laptop which he now uses. But Mr. Dorbor says he keeps this laptop in his bedroom pending the improvement of the situation.

However, when contacted, the two accused officials of the Association denied any knowledge about the reported theft at the Association’s head office.Meanwhile, police have also confirmed the arrest and investigation of the two HIGAB officials, but say the alleged suspects were released after the LNP could not retrieve the stolen items.

By Emmanuel Mondaye–Edited by Winston W. Parley