In LAC Murder Case, Witness Claims Setup
Story Culled from The Daily Observer - 8/04/09
BUCHANAN -- Preliminary hearings of the murder case involving eight Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC) security officers has begun at the Buchanan City Court in Grand Bassa County.
The officers, who worked under the LAC’s Plant Protection Division (PPD), reportedly beat a 32-year-old man, identified as Jackson Boda, to death.
The incident occurred on Monday, July 6 at the main offices of the LAC at about 11 p.m., the police report said. According to police report, Boda was allegedly accosted by the PPD officers when he was caught with nine gallons of fuel in the concession area of the company.
During the pre-trial of the case presided over by Stipendiary Magistrate, Paul S. Mongonary, on Thursday, July 16, the state was represented by Buchanan City Solicitor Isaac S. Yorcee, while the defendants were represented by Cllr. Morris A. Kabba of the Sherman and Sherman Law Firm, Inc.
Taking the stand as state witness was one Papa Quoi, brother of the deceased, who survived the beating. He claimed he could identify those involved and testified against the defendants.
He explained that his late brother was an employee of LAC and was assigned to the factory as a Quality Technician. He told the court that he received a phone call at about 11 p.m. on July 6 requesting him to go and take delivery of fuel.
Quoi testified that when he and his late brother arrived at the factory that night, they were summoned to the fence surrounding the LAC head office to pick up the fuel, already in a container. He went on to say that while they were at the fence, he advised his brother to leave because he said he was not satisfied with the manner in which they had been called to the fence. He said his late brother did not listen to him.
Quoi further told the court that after a few minutes, a vehicle arrived; and the group in the vehicle, believed to be all PPD security personnel, arrested them. He said they were severely beaten by the group, causing the untimely death of his brother, adding that the whole episode appeared to be a setup.
In his testimonies, Quoi alleged that Mr. Boteh Tarkune, who had placed the phone call summoning Quoi and Boda to the factory, admitted the fact that it was a setup targeting him and his late brother.
After having testified as such to the court, Quoi was then cross-examined by Counselor Kabba, attorney for the defense. Hearing was reconvened to August 5, at which time the defense lawyers will complete their cross-examination of the witness.
The defendants in the murder case are Abu Kamara, James Howard, Abraham Smith, Peter Joe, James Kenneh, Dykin Gbarweh, and Philip David. Tarkune was charged with criminal facilitation.
Meanwhile, all of the defendants are in detention at the Upper Buchanan Prison. According to Chief Superintendent Tito Lolin of the Grand Bassa Police Detachment, the body of the deceased, Jackson Boda, has been transferred from the Bedell Evening Rest Funeral Home to the John F. Kennedy Hospital for an autops
