Lebanese faces rape charge

Police in Monrovia have charged a 65-year-old Lebanese national for allegedly raping an eight years old girl in Congo Town Community, but the accused claims he’s innocent.

Police Director Chris C. Massaquoi, told reporters in a news conference Tuesday, 22 December at the Liberian National Police Headquarters on Capitol Hill that suspect Amin M. Dehini has been charged with statutory rape and was being processed to court for prosecution.

Director Massaquoi said suspect Dehini is an employee of the Kings and Queens Supermarket located on the Old Road, and that he allegedly provided3,500Liberian Dollars for treatment of the victim before escaping his home.

According to the police chief, the accused had contact with the victim on 10 December and thereafter fled his home for hiding in the VOA Community along the Robertsfield highway where he was arrested by police officers.

He says witnesses confirmed to investigators that suspect Dehini “undertook the responsibility to treat the victim,” adding “he was caught in the very act of abusing the victim in his room.”

The Police Director additionally says the 8-year-old victim also identified the accused as the perpetrator of the crime against her. “… Medical report obtained from the Duport Road Clinic and dated December 17, 2015 confirmed that the victim was truly abused …,” Massaquoi further disclosed.

He noted that in consequence of “this wicked, inhumane, intentional, and satanic act,” the accused has been charged with statutory rape in gross violation of Section 14.70 (a)(ii) and (b) of the new rape law of Liberia.

Massaquoui however warned the public and those involved in compromising rape cases to desist from such practice, as the crime is a grave offense against innocent and defenseless women and children, which will not be tolerated by the State.

Meanwhile, the accused told reporters that he committed no such crime, insisting he is innocent.

Dehini claims that as neighbors, people have often asked him for help and not because he wanted to cover up a crime as being alleged by the police. Rape is a non-bailable offense here punishable by life sentence or 10 years in prison depending on the degree of the crime.

By Winston W. Parley-Edited by Jonathan Browne