DEA commander risks murder charge

The Deputy River Gee County Commander for Liberia’s Drug Enforcement Agency or DEA Mr. Isaac Karmah, and eight co-suspects from the Action Agents of the DEA are heading to face multiple criminal charges of murder, burglary, criminal conspiracy and theft of property, security officials say.

Last Wednesday, April 8, 2015, The NewDawn received report that a 30-year-old physically challenged man, who has now been identified as Darlington Wleh had died on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, days after he was allegedly flogged by a team of Action Agents of the DEA led by commander Karmah.

In a follow-up on Sunday, April 12, 2015, River Gee County Attorney Wesseh A. Wesseh, told The NewDawn that high evidence had been gathered from the crime scene and police would have concluded investigation on Sunday to charge and send to court suspect Karmah and his conspirators with murder, burglary, criminal conspiracy and theft of property.

Prior to the police’s findings, a “coroner jury” which was constituted last week reported that they observed the victim to have bruises or cuts on his body; blood oozing from his nose; foam from his mouth and nose and blood on his head, and concluded that they determined foul play.

During a joint security intervention led by Attorney Wesseh to Dartorken Town in Tienpo District, River Gee County last week, the County Attorney said eye-witnesses accused the DEA officers of allegedly entering Dartorken at 10pm on Saturday, April 4, 2015 and raided several houses of gold and cash with combined value around L$300,000.00.

Mr. Wesseh said eye-witnesses in Dartorken further told the Liberia National Police that deceased victim Darlington Wleh met his flogging when he refused to allow them take away his DVD on which he and at least five others were viewing movie.

According to him, the suspects demanded to search victim Wleh’s house and in the search process, discovered a single barrel gun in the victim’s premises.

He said witnesses claim that the Action Agents led by co-suspect Karmah allegedly beat victim Wleh with his single barrel gun butt and sprayed the house in which the victim and his visitors were viewing movie.

Eye-witnesses said the late Darlington Wleh became a handicap two years ago when he accidentally fell into a mining pit at a gold camp.

Another victim, Daniel Kabbah, allegedly suffered at the hands of the suspects and slept in handcuff during their night search with no search warrant from a court.  

After being charged by police, Atty. Wesseh told The NewDawn the suspects will be taken to court in Fish Town today, Monday, April 13, 2015; but noted that they will be transferred to Harper City, Maryland County later.

On Sunday, April 12, DEA Director Mr. Anthony Suah, said he was not speaking on the issue from River Gee County because he had already dispatched an investigative team there to report to him before he would comment.

Mr. Suah notwithstanding said he was not in support of anyone beating and killing another person, but so far, no report had come to him as at Sunday, saying, he could not speak on the matter.

By Winston W. Parley