Several charged after election violence
Police in Monrovia have charged six suspects following election violence in central Monrovia in which talk – show host Henry Costa claims he was attacked and threatened with death by a group he claims to be annoyed by his comments against Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) presidential candidate Sen. George Weah.
“Complainant Costa told the police investigators that, following the threats, the defendant and his cohorts, few of whom are co – defendants began to throw objects at him and in fact one of them hit him in his chest claiming that he, Henry Costa insulted Senator George Weah on his talk show that was what got them angry,” a police charge sheet dated 25 October says.
Those charged relating to the alleged attack against Mr. Costa include defendants Leroy Kolleh, Suleiman Fofana, Junior Gibson, Nordoh Parley, Dennis Kanneh and Jeremiah Sackie. They are charged with terroristic threats, simple assault and disorderly conduct.
In his complaint to the police, Costa says on 24 October at 1:30pm, he was coming from a meeting on Mechlin Street when he was aggressively approached by the defendants believed to be petite traders.
He says the accused rain insults at him, and allegedly threatened to kill him and burn his car. Following the alleged threats, Costa says the defendants began throwing objects at him and in fact hit him in his chest for allegedly insulting Sen. Weah. Costa says he had to escape in an unmarked vehicle.
Having viewed a video, police investigators confirmed that Mr. Costa was indeed attacked on Mechling Street, between Broad and Ashmum Streets.
Having been told of the allegation, police say the defendants did not deny or admit to the claims made against them, but rather chose to remain silent as advised by their lawyer Cllr. T. Joseph B. Debblay.
During the investigation, police say witnesses Stephen T. Wrayee and Sylvester Tevez corroborated the allegation levied by Mr. Costa that he was being threatened, assaulted and insulted on 24 October.
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By Winston W. Parley
