Court arrests runaway rape suspect

The Paynesville Magisterial Court in Montserrado County has finally arrested 21-year-old defendant Timothy Kumbelay, who has been on the run after he was charged with ‘Incest and Statutory Rape’ in 2015.

Court document details that defendant Kumbelay, who is uncle to his 14-year-old victim, sexually abused her several times both at the minor parents’ Pipeline residence and at his (Kumbelay’s) Duport Road private residence before escaping.

According to the court, predicated upon the complaint of private prosecutrix for and on behalf of her daughter, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) through the prosecutors charged defendant Kumbelay with the commission of the crimes in violation of the statute, because he acted with criminal intent for the mere purpose to rape the victim.

The defendant criminally, intentionally and wickedly took the victim to his house and forcibly had sex with her, the court record revealed, and added that the crimes Incest and Statutory Rape are in violation of section 16.2 and 14.70 of the New Penal Code of Liberia.

The private prosecutrix AlvinettaKumbelay, told the Liberia National Police (LNP) that she noticed that her daughter was sexually abused and later took her to the hospital where a medical examination proved the child was abused by the defendant .

The victim, in her statement to the police narrated that on one occasion, defendant Kumbelay had sex with her in her parents’ house, while they (parents) were away, but she did not bleed. She continued that thereafter, she began to experience severe stomach pain, but never told anyone because defendant Timothy Kumbelay had threatened to harm her if she informed anyone about what had transpired between the both of them.

When asked by the police how she got to know defendant Kumbelay, the victim said her mother AlvinettaKumbelay introduced him as a cousin. Defendant Timothy Kumbelay is Alvinetta’s brother son.

The victim further told police investigation that the first time she and Timothy had sex was on her birthday – June 11, 2015. One witness produced by the state, Philip Caphus, told the police he once saw the victim in the house of the defendant wearing gray and white clothes but he was busy with his activities and didn’t know what other thing that transpired between Timothy and her.
Meanwhile, defendant Timothy Kumbelay has reportedly informed the police that he would remain silent until he appears in court.

By Emmanuel Mondaye-Editing by Jonathan Browne