The Personal Aide to former President George Manneh Weah, Sekou Kalasco Damaro, and fourteen other rioters were sent to the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) by the Monrovia City Court Magistrate Ben L. Barco after being handed over to the court for involvement in Monday’s December 17, 2024 violent protest.
The defendants are charged with multiple crimes ranging from Riot, Failure to Disperse, Obstructing Highways and Other Passages, Physical Obstruction of Government Function, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Mischief, Theft of Property & Disorderly Conduct.
Magistrate Barco’s writ said, “You are hereby commanded to ARREST the living body (ies) of Sekou Kalasco Damaro, and others, to be identified Defendant(s) and forthwith bring them before the Monrovia City Court, Temple of Justice, Montserrado County to answer the Charge of Riot, Failure to Disperse, Obstructing Highway and other Passages, Physical Obstruction of Government Function, Aggravated Assault, etc. based upon the oath and complaint of the Republic of Liberia by and thru the Ministry of Justice Prosecutor (trix).
Some of those arrested and sent to jail are Sekou Kalasco Damaro, Martha Johnson, Comfort N. Brown, Charles Johnson, Francis Flomo, Augustine Zaizay, Stanley Flomo while, others to be identified were involved in damaging a state-owned olive-green Toyota Prado, bearing license plate A6309 along with three other vehicles, total value USD40,000.
According to the court document, during the period of December 12, 2024, co-defendant Sekou Kalaso Damaro and others fourteen defendants to be identified have been using electronic, print and social media (Facebook) to call on Liberians to gather in their numbers so as to stage a protest.
The writ alleged that as the result of defendant Damaro and others’ planned protest, they on Tuesday, December 17, 20224 beginning 08:00hrs up to 09:00hrs, begun assembling at various locations in Montserrado County from where they left for Capitol Hill and its surroundings with the intention of forcibly entering the Capitol Building, blocking the main streets leading to the Capitol Building, and participated in breaking barriers erected by the LNP, since indeed the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Joseph Nyumah Boakai and other top officials of government were expected to meet at the Capitol Building.
The defendants physically assaulted Patrolman Amara Bility of the LNP, inflicted wounds on his head and took away assigned weapon, thereby damaging a state-owned Olive-green Toyota Prado, bearing license plate A6309 along with three other vehicles valued at US$40,000.
The alleged act of the defendants, account to the writ is being unlawful, wicked, criminal and intentional is in violation of Chapters 17, 12, 15 & 14, Sections 17.1, 17.3, 12.1. 15 53, 1.51 and 14.20 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberian.
Magistrate Barco’s writ concluded that the act of the defendants’ are in violation of chapters 17, 12, 15 and 14, sections 17.1, 17.3, 12.1, 15.53, 1.51 and 14.20 of the Revised Penal Law of Liberia pending trial by court of competent jurisdiction.
By T.Q. Lula Jaurey
