Monrovia – A day after the Liberia National Police (LNP) presented them at a press conference, three Liberian journalists were over the weekend sent to court for the alleged crimes of criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation, harassment and criminal attempt to commit theft.
Last week, three Liberian Journalists became newsmakers for the wrong reason, as they were arrested by Police for allegedly being involved in extortion and criminally taking huge amounts of money under the disguise of investigation, but the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has called for their “speedy, impartial investigation”.
Those involved are Melvin Molden, Israel Amoah Duncan of Spoon Network; Joseph Soma of TV Liberia online, Tenesee Torplue of The Independent TV online and Thomas Karwon.
According to Police Charge sheet, on July 15, 22, the defendants listed above placed a call through their leader defendant Torplue to Philip Bayor Dwuye Sr., President and CEO of the FOE-BE Agriculture Cooperation informing him that they had a damaging report on him.
Police said the complainant explained that based on their damaging evidence, they needed to meet with him (Dwuye). Adding that he (defendant Torplue) was in Ganta Nimba County on the Cabinet retreat.
According to Dwuye, defendant Torplue informed him that upon his return to Monrovia he was going to arrange a meeting date. The next day, the defendants showed up at his house unnoticed with his friends giving them his house directions.
With that surprising look, he (the complainant) ushered them in his living room and offered drinks and started the discussion of which they said they had an incriminating evidence against him and needed to give the amount of twenty thousand United States Dollars (US$20,000.00) to bury the said evidence.
Dwuye further explained that since they had that discussion, those listed above started harassing and blackmailing him on ground that he is allegedly having sexual relationship with a minor. He added that they emphasized that the money requested for was intended to prevent the publication of said story to the public.
Police investigating also established that the defendants did conspire to harass, intimidate and threaten the complainant on what they referred to as damaging text messages in their possession between FOE-BE Agricultural Corporation President- Philip Bayor Dwuye and the minor who is 17 years old.
Having observed that he (Dwuye) became apprehensive and told them to publish the story, the ringleader pleaded with the complainant to corporate with them so that he could save his integrity from being dented.
The Journalists allegedly went into another agreement to reduce the said amount to ten thousand United States Dollars but the complainant appealed to give them five thousand United States Dollars (5,000.00).
Investigating further, the Police charge sheet said that the complainant informed the Police about all the transactions until they (the Journalists) were arrested.
During Police interview with the defendants, they verbally admitted attempting to extort money from the complaint but said it was the complaint that decided to give them five thousand United States Dollars (5,000.00) to kill the story, the Police charge sheet said. But it added that they refused to give written statement on ground that they were reserving their right to remain silent.
Police investigation also revealed that the defendants extorted and attempted to extort money from other public officials, including Head of WAEC Liberia – Mr. Dale G. Gbolo and a foreigner named Chuku.
In view of facts and circumstances, coupled with defendants’ verbal admittance statements, text messages, background inquiry the investigation has resolved to charged defendants Tennyson T. Torplue, Israel Duncan, Melvin Molden with the crime of Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Harassment, Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft in violation of chapter 10 section 10.4, chapter 10 section 10.3, chapter 15 section 14.38 and chapter 10 section 10.1 of the revised law of the Republic of Liberia while at large Joseph Somah, Thomas Karwon and Toby are charged likewise in absentia pending trial.
Meanwhile, the defendants have filed a bail bond and were over the weekend set free until a later date to begin court hearing.
