By Garmah Lomoh|Judiciary Contributor
Temple of Justice, Monrovia_A 50-year-old pastor of the Revival Church in Logan town identified as James Kollie has been sentenced by the Monrovia City Court for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in the name of “spiritual cleansing”.
On June 9, 2020, relative of the victim reported at the women and children protection section Central headquarters in Monrovia and alleged that his 13-year-old niece has been repeatedly sexually abused by Defendant James Kollie.
According to police charge sheet, complainant of the victim alleged that in July of 2017, he carried his 10-year old niece by then to defendant Kollie Church in Logan town for deliverance because she was sick where she remained up to June 6,2020, when he the complainant wife went to the victim to spend time with them.
The police charge sheet further disclosed that when the victim came home, she told the complainant and his wife that defendant James Kollie had repeatedly sexually abused her and from his interview with the victim, it appears that pastor Kollie has been having sex with the victim since 2019.
During interview conducted with the victim, she told the investigators that in 2017, her mother name withheld carried her to defendant Kollie Church because she was sick.
The victim further revealed that when she was at the church, most time at night defendant Kollie will take her from in the church building, carried her in his room, undressed her and also undressed himself and insert his penis inside her private part.
While having sexual intercourse with her, he usually kissed her mouth and sucked her breast and even went ahead threatened her that if she tells anyone, he will not buy anything for her to eat.
Explaining further, the victim told the investigator that defendant Kollie has had sex with her by inserting his penis her private part several times both in his room and bathroom.
The police charge sheet did not mention the side of the defendant but in an exclusive interview with him at the Monrovia City Court, defendant Kollie denied the allegation against him.
Our judiciary correspondent said in view of the circumstances gathered during the investigation couple with the findings in the medical report which is consistent with the allegation, the investigator has charged defendant Kollie with the crime of rape in violation of section 14.70(a)(I)(b) of the new rape law of Liberia and pending trial before court.
