By Patrick N. Mensah, Maryland County
Police in Maryland County have a commercial motorcyclist for allegedly raping a 30-year-old female passenger on the highway to town from a local beach.
The police in Harper, Maryland County have sent 41-year-old suspect Mark William to court on charges of rape and theft of property following his arrest on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.
Police said the victim, a resident of Easy Town Community, in Harper City, had informed the Women and Children Protection Section of the incident after her encounter with suspect Williams.
According to the survival, the incident occurred on New Year’s Day at about 9:00 pm.
She said earlier in the morning hours on New Year’s Day, she collected her Susu money to the tune of LRD20,500 after which she decided to swim on the beach.
After swimming on the beach, the survivor said she ended up riding with suspect William because she could not find the first motorcyclist who took her to Harper Fish Town.
She said she met suspect Williams and other three boys yet to be identified, heading to Harper.
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According to the victim, William agreed to transport her for L$300.
“So while coming, the bike fell two times and he told the other three guys to wait for him [while he brought] me to Harper, [promising to] later go for them,” she explained to the police.
She alleged that while she and Mark were returning to her destination, the suspect told her he would waive the L$300 he had charged her in exchange for sexual intercourse.
“So when he said that I just thought it was a joke, but not knowing he was looking for a good place to stop his bike,” the victim explained.
“So when we got around a rubber bush, Mark came in the middle of the road and stopped the bike and said he wanted to have sex with me and threatened to kill me if I refused or resisted him,” she lamented.
“So I pretended that I wanted to toilet, and [I] entered into the bush and started running, but the suspect flashed light on me and had sex with her,” she continued.
The survivor detailed that she was taken to the James Jenkins Dossen Referral Hospital in Harper, and medical reports have shown that she was penetrated.
The Chief Inspector of the Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police Leona M. Gaye Kangar accorded the suspect his legal right to a lawyer or to remain silent.
But when questioned, the suspect admitted to the allegation levied against him during the police investigation.
He was subsequently charged with rape and theft of property and was forwarded to the Harper City Court for trial.
