Lawmaker arrested

Grand Gedeh County Electoral District #2 Representative Morais Waylee has been arrested by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) for criminal conspiracy, after facing accusation for several months that he allegedly raped a 13 – year – old girl in Grand Gedeh County.

Police Inspector General Gregory Col. Gregory Coleman told reporters after Rep. Waylee’s arrest on Thursday, 13 July that the lawmaker and his wife have been on police wanted list over concerns that the alleged rape victim whom police have been seeking to interview could not be found up to the time of the arrest.

The police chief says anyone who knows the whereabouts of the alleged rape victim should alert the police, and also pleads with the public to signal the police whenever Rep. Waylee’s wife is spotted anywhere in order to have her arrested.

The Grand Gedeh County lawmaker had gone to the Capitol Building on Thursday morning, 13 July for regular legislative session when some officers of the police through the Sergeant-At-Arms of the House of Representatives delivered his arrest warrant to him.

Upon the delivery of the arrest warrant, Rep. Waylee was immediately dragged out of the Capitol Building and led to the LNP Headquarters for questioning. Some eye – witnesses claim that Rep. Waylee was disgracefully handcuffed while being taken to the police headquarters on Capitol Hill.

In what appears to be a show of solidarity, several of his colleagues including Senator G. Alphonso Gaye, Representatives Worlea Sawah Dunah, Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, Alex Grant, George Mulbah, Garrison Yealue, and Chief of office staff Eric Kennedy in the speaker’s [office] escorted the disgraced Rep. Waylee to the police headquarters.

Prior to his arrest, authorities of the LNP had earlier engaged Speaker Emmanuel James Nuquay and the entire leadership of the House of Representatives for the arrest of Rep. Waylee.

The accused lawmaker has been facing allegations of raping a 13 – year – old girl who is said to be his niece. The incident reportedly took place in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County in early May this year.

Rep. Waylee has since denied the allegation, terming it as mere propaganda only intended to besmear his hard earned character. Later, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe and some key officials of government visited the headquarters of the police.

His colleagues were seen in the corridor of the police headquarters apparently trying to lobby with Police Inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman for Rep. Waylee’s release to the House of Representatives.

Rape is a capital offense here, and the laws here make it a non – bailable offense. Suspects are often held in police custody while being investigated, and when charged, they are subsequently detained at prison facilities where they will remain until they are duly prosecuted.

Rep. Waylee’s fingers’ prints were later taken by police and made to write a formal statement. The police however denied reporters the opportunity of photographing Rep. Waylee.

It was reported in the local media here on 3 May that a member of the House of Representatives was sexually involved with a 13-year-old girl, leading to an alleged pregnancy.
By Bridgett Milton–Edited by Winston W. Parley