JFK employee charged with rape

39-year-old defendant Emmet Rogers has been charged with rape and forwarded to court for trial in connection with a recent rape incident at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia. The crime violates Section 14.70 of the 2005 Rape Law of Liberia.

According to police charge sheet, defendant Emmet Rogers was arrested and brought to the Women and Children Protection Section at the Liberian National Police Headquarters on the allegation of sexual assault, and acquainted with his rights.

Police conducted preliminary investigated based on the allegation levied against him by complainant Abraham Kromah, on behalf of authorities of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Hospital. Accordingly, Kromah narrated to police that on Friday, June 10, 2016 at about 9:00pm one of the nurses at the hospital Malay Kpadeh, alerted two security officers on duty – Patrick W. Mboyah and Justice Johnson that defendant Rogers carried out an alleged inappropriate act against victim Memai Dolo, 26, a female patient with speech impediment admitted in the medical and surgical wards on the 3rd Floor, specifically in Room # 303, Bed “B.”

The police charged sheet further details that during an interview with defendant Emmet Rogers, he informed the investigation that on Friday, June 10, 2016, he went to work as usual at the John F. Kennedy Hospital where he serves as a dietician.

Defendant Rogers is quoted by the police as narrating that he went into the medical and surgical wards on the 3rd Floor and took all of the dirty dishes down stairs as usual, but returned to the wards to make a census when Malay, a nurse who is in charge of Rooms #303, 301 and 302 told him about some special patient needs.

Defendant Rogers at the same time revealed that while going, the victim called him, using signs communication, and gave him 80 Liberian Dollars that she wanted soft drink.  According to him, he bought the soft drink and took it to the patient, but while making his way out of the room (303) another patient in Bed “D” screamed for help, calling the nurse’s attention.

He also explained the nurse told him not to go into the room again and both of them left, denying of having any sexual contact with the victim. During police investigation and interview conducted with the defendant, complainant, victim and other witnesses, it was established that victim Memai Dolo, is very ill and admitted at the JFK Hospital on the 3rd Floor in Bed “B”.

Medical reports submitted to the police by the victim’s father, Orando F. Armah dated June 15, 2016 from the Hope for Women International Clinic located along AB Tolbert Road in Paynesville revealed the victim’s hymen was not seen, heal wound, tear heal and evidence of heal trauma in victim’s vagina, among others.

“In view of the above facts and evidence gathered, coupled with the direct and consistent allegation levied against defendant Emmet Rogers by the victim Memai Dolo, the medical report’s findings and witnesses testimonies, this investigation has resolved to charge defendant Rogers with the crime rape in violation of section 14:70 of the 2005 rape law of Liberia and forwarded to court for trial”, the police charge sheet concluded.

By Zee Roberts-Editing by Jonathan Browne