Africa-Press – Liberia.
Liberian police authorities have disrobed 16 senior and junior officers, accusing them of aiding and abetting the alleged escape from the investigation of Queen Johnson, a supporter of the opposition Unity Party (UP).
In December the Liberia National Police (LNP) declared Ms. Johnson and others wanted about the death of ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) supporter Joshua Solomon.
Police said junior officers arrested her at an amusement center over the weekend on Broad Street.
But they claim that she was taken away by Police Chief Inspector for Technical Services Mr. Ithamar Harding (Unit 187), assuring that he would have turned her over at the police headquarters.
Police Spokesman Moses Carter told a press conference Mr. Harding and several other junior officers are accused of aiding Ms. Johnson’s escape.
“Officer Harding has been disrobed with immediate effect and forwarded to the Professional Standards Division… with the rest of the other officers for questioning on how Madam Johnson controversially escaped the scene,” said Carter.
Carter stated that the disrobed officers have been subjected to the Professional Standards Division of the LNP to account for their ethical misconduct regarding the escape of Ms. Johnson.
According to him, on 5 January 2024, Ms. Johnson was arrested at a local entertainment center in Central Monrovia known as Red Lion while having amusement.
He explained that the arrest was carried out by some junior officers of the LNP who were tipped about her whereabouts and responded to the scene.
Mr. Carter said the situation (arrest) was very tense because the place was overcrowded, and Ms. Johnson allegedly had surrogates with her. With professionalism and ethics, he said the officers managed to arrest Ms. Johnson and calm down the situation.
“Having been extracted, Ms. Johnson was requested by senior officer Ithamar Harding who promised to ensure that she was brought to the LNP headquarters for questioning and investigation in relation to the death of the late Joshua Solomon,” he stated.
Mr. Carter said the Police Support Unit (PSU) vehicle moved slowly behind senior officer Harding and Ms. Johnson.
“Members of the press, unfortunately, while en route to the LNP headquarters, Ms Johnson was driven off the LNP headquarters allegedly by senior officer Harding. As a result, she absconded the scene,” he noted.
Carter detailed that all of the responding officers had been subjected to investigation before the LNP’s Professional Standards Division concerning the escape of Ms. Johnson.
He said the junior officers had accused the senior officers of aiding and abetting the escape of Ms. Johnson.
“We are doing this to ensure that she faces investigation and has nothing to do with witch-hunting,” Carter noted.
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