By Thomas Domah, Nimba county
A 55-year-old magistrate assigned at Zuolay Magisterial Court in Lower Nimba County has been arrested for allegedly raping a girl.
Magistrate Chester S. Paye was arrested following the incident on November 27, 2023.
Family members complained Magistrate Paye to the Tappita police station in Nimba, where he was arrested, charged, and later sent to the Sanniquellie Central prison, awaiting trial.
The victim had been taken to Zuolay to live with her aunt Rita Dahn, who happens to be wife of Magistrate Chester Paye (the accused) since May 2023.
She explained that when her aunt left her in the care of Paye, he forced her to stay on the farm where he allegedly sexually abused her for a long period of time, threatening not to give her food, if she left the farm.
The father of the victim, Obrasco Kartoe, told reporters that during a visit to Zuolay town in September where the incident occurred, the 12-year-old minor greeted him and informed him how she had been sexually abused in Zuolay by Magistrate Chester S. Paye.
She said each time her aunt Rita Dahn is out of the home, Paye would force her to have sex, which continued for a long time.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
Medical report indicates that the victim was abused sexually.
The 55-year-old magistrate is currently at the Sanniquellie Central prison, while the victim has been hospitalized and is expected to be taken out of the country for advanced treatment.
This paper gathered that at least ten rape cases in the county are yet to be brought to justice.
Parents of some of the victims The NEW DAWN spoke to did not seek justice because of lack of money as they were asked to pay 40 to 50 thousand Liberian Dollars to transport those rape suspects.
Meanwhile, the safe home hosting rape victims in Sanniquellie, Nimba County reportedly lacks basic materials, including food.
Speaking to our Nimba correspondent at his office in Sanniquellie, the Head of SGBV unit responsible for prosecution, Mr. Belleh Gworlekagu, said there is serious lack of funding from government and international partners unlike in the past.
Mr. Gworlekagu explained that international partners are no longer available for support, so all attention is now directed at government that is providing meager support toward the fight against SGBV in the county.
Few months ago, over 30 rape suspects were released from the Sanniquellie Central Prison after being in detention for five years without court trial.
Inmates who were released from the prison facility that was constructed for only 75 persons, boasted of their family members paying 50 to 100 thousand Liberian Dollars to secure their freedom, but Mr. Gworlekagu said he has no idea of such report, as he just took up assignment in the county. Editing by Jonathan Browne
