The Pastor of the St. John United Methodist Church in Gbarnga, Bong County identified as the Ground jurors of the County have indicted Rev. Dr. Samuel Karyea.
As the victim mother fled with her in order to stop the matter from being tried.
Defendant, Rev. Karyea was indicted by the ground jurors of Bong County in line with Chapter 14.70 of new rape law of Liberia.
Rape is a first degree felony and a billable offense but due to our setting and the gravity of case, most often alleged rapist usually be incarcerated while awaiting court trial.
On the other hand, deeper investigation revealed that the victim mother is also in relationship with Rev. Dr. Samuel Karyea so therefore she resisting Justice for daughter that is why she and the victim have gone to an unknown location.
Defendant Karyea was arrested, investigated, charged and sent to court -a senior cleric of the United Methodist for raping a minor in Gbarnga, Bong County, central Liberia, the church suspended the accused, Rev. Dr. Samuel Karyea immediately.
Rev. Karyea, senior Pastor of the St. John United Methodist Church and Dean of the Gbarnga School of Theology, was arrested, investigated, Charged and sent to court the 9th Judicial Circuit Court for alleged statutory rape by the Liberia National Police.
According to police investigation, defendant Karyeah, age 54 allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl, who was on his list of sponsored students at the Williams V.S. Tubman High school in Gbarnga.
The cleric is said to be married with wife and children staying together but went on to rape a minor.
One report says, he allegedly raped the survivor for the first time in the Lelekpayea community where the survivor and her parents also live but was said to be compromised by parents when she complained of the sexual act melted against her by this servant of God.
The Second alleged rape incident occurred on the compound of the school of theology, where the victim again complained to her parents but it was never taken serious.
Police was informed when Human Rights and some Civil Society groups came together and issued a press statement, pressuring the police for the immediate arrested of the clergy man.
In a swift manner, the police moved in and had the Pastor arrested, investigated, charged and forwarded to court. Pastor Karyeah is currently behind bar awaiting court trial.
UMC reaction
In a press statement on Thursday, April 2, 2020, the United Methodist Church called on the Government of Liberia to fast-track his trial, and said they “regret the alleged sexual assault carryout by one of its pastors, citing that, the law must take its course against the clergyman.”
“United Methodist Church in Liberia suspends pastor for allegedly raping a 15 year-old minor in Gbarnga, Bong County. The investigation established that in September last year, the victim was firstly tempered with in the Lelekpayea community and later on the Compound of the Gbarnga School of Theology.
UMC-Liberia has meanwhile called for the speedy trail of their clergymen, adding that, it strongly believed in the smooth adjudication of the rule of law.
year old girl on two separate occasions. The investigation established that in September last year, the victim was firstly tempered with in the Lelekpayea community and later on the Compound of the Gbarnga School of Theology.
UMC-Liberia has meanwhile called for the speedy trail of their clergymen, adding that, it strongly believed in the smooth adjudication of the rule of law,” the statement from the Methodist Church said.
Meanwhile, it is believed that defendant Karyea maybe placed on bail since the victim mother has fled with the victim from their residence and gone to an unknown location something that will hinder the case from proceeding.
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