^{Liberia! 2026} Kakata Prison Jailbreak, Reject VP Koung’s Call, Gospel singer says Miracle Kettor, prosecution of Jerry Nyantee Wrato, former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, Escape Kakata Central Prison, Denies Jewel Howard Taylor’s Bail Request, US$317M Cocaine Case, Liberia’s ex-vice president await trial, assaulted officers during a traffic stop, Drug Network Sought Howard-Taylor’s Protection, Former Vice President released custodial detention, Jewel Howard-Taylor’s Evidence Request Rejected, Liberia accept 1200 non-Liberians, US sent deportees to many African countries, Saudi rice trial, ‘Herbalist’ Charged, former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor charged, Jewel Howard Taylor Rushed to Hospital, In Grand Bassa: Murder Suspect Finally Arrested After Years on the Run, Five-Armed Robbery Suspects Sent to Court Within One Week in Bong, The LDEA Sinoe County detachment arrest a Nigerian National with Drugs worth $354500LD, Sinkor Bouncer Charged With Manslaughter After Hiding Unconscious Woman’s Body Under Mattress, Liberian Woman Alleges Years of Abuse by Brother Accuses Police of Ignoring Complaints, For Killing Three Grandchildren Grandmother in Nimba County Sentenced to Life in prison, Jury Splits 6-6 in Police Officer’s Death Trial Forcing Mistrial, Grand Kru Mob Attack Raises Alarm Over Vigilante Violence and Cultural Coercion, Police Charge Three in Knife-Point Robbery in Gbarnga, Police charge Nigerian pastor with statutory rape sexual abuse of minor, Man on the run After Alleged Murder of 25-year-old Girlfriend, National Security Agency Officer jailed for allegedly sodomizing a minor, HIV-positive woman says status disclosure led to stigma loss of livelihood in Karnplay, Supreme Court reserves ruling in contempt proceedings against Prophet Key, 72nd Land Crisis: Court denies Writ of Prohibition, LDEA Grand Bassa County Detachment arrested a drug worth LRD 114000.00

2026.9.24 Court Denies Jewel Howard Taylor’s Bail Request …In US$317M Cocaine Case
Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman F. Feika has denied former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor’s motion seeking admission to bail in the ongoing US$317 million alleged cocaine case. Judge Feika handed down the ruling Thursday, September 24, 2026, following arguments from Taylor’s legal team and prosecutors over whether constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws barred charges against the former Vice President.
Taylor is facing multiple charges under Liberia’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023, including Importation of Controlled Drugs, Unlicensed Exportation, Unlicensed Sale and Transportation of Controlled Substances, Abuse of Office, Illicit Trafficking, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Money Laundering, and Aiding the Consummation of a crime.

2026.9.21 WRATO CASE PUTS LIBERIA’S NEW CYBERCRIME ACT UNDER ITS FIRST MAJOR PUBLIC TEST
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The arrest and impending prosecution of Jerry Nyantee Wrato has rapidly developed into a wider national debate over how Liberia will draw the line between criminal online conduct and protected expression under its newly enacted Cybercrime Act.
The case began with allegations involving digital content targeting Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung but has now moved into a much larger legal and public-policy discussion after the Liberia National Police concluded its investigation and announced four charges against Wrato.
The charges are misuse of devices, cyberstalking, distribution of data messages that incite damage to property or violence, and distribution of harmful data messages.

2026.9.21 Gospel singer says Miracle Kettor chose to divorce her husband hours before she died, blames a health worker’s injection for her death, hands recordings to police and ends her campaign
MONROVIA – Gospel musician Kanvee G. Adams says Miracle A. Kettor, president of the Liberia Association of Gospel Musical Artists, had decided to divorce her husband, Pastor Steve Kettor, the night before she died, and accused a health worker of giving her an injection Adams blames for her death.

2026.9.21 Police Reject VP Koung’s Call to Release Wrato, Multiple Cybercrime Charges Over AI-Generated Content
MONROVIA — The Liberia National Police has rejected Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung’s call for the release of Jerry Nyantee Wrato, pressing four cybercrime charges against him and insisting that an alleged criminal offense cannot be discontinued solely based on the wishes of the person reportedly targeted.
Wrato was recently arrested by police in connection with artificial intelligence-generated content involving Koung. Following the arrest, the vice president publicly called for Wrato’s immediate release, saying he had “no desire to press charges” and emphasizing tolerance and compassion.

2026.9.20 Liberia: More Than 100 Inmates Reportedly Escape Kakata Central Prison as Justice Ministry Confirms Jailbreak
KAKATA, Margibi County — More than 100 inmates reportedly escaped from the Kakata Central Prison on Sunday evening, triggering a massive manhunt across Kakata and surrounding communities, as the Ministry of Justice confirmed a jailbreak and announced an ongoing search-and-recapture operation.

2026.9.4 DRESSED IN WHITE, FACING THE STORM: BONDOO, HOWARD-TAYLOR CUT STRIKING FIGURES IN COURT
MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Like Nora Finda Bondoo before her, former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor walked into Liberia’s courtroom drama clad in white, an image loaded with symbolism.
The scene of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor arriving in court on Friday in white had a cinematic quality to it.
In a courtroom typically filled with stark language—charges, evidence, detention, bond, prosecution, and defense—Howard-Taylor’s attire provided a vivid contrast to the somber atmosphere surrounding the proceedings.
White: It was a color that stood out against the prevailing darkness.
Howard-Taylor is not the first notable Liberian woman to don white clothing while facing the complexities of the justice system.
Prior to her, Nora Finda Bondoo, who formerly served as the Chief of Protocol at the Executive Mansion, also made headlines by appearing in white during her own legal challenges.
Whether this is a deliberate choice or mere coincidence, the similarity is hard to overlook. Both women held influential positions at the heart of Liberian power; Bondoo was a key player in the Executive Mansion under George Weah, while Howard-Taylor took on an even more significant role as Liberia’s Vice President from 2018 to 2024.
Now, however, their names are linked not to state events and official duties, but rather to courtrooms, legal representatives, and criminal cases.
The transformation is truly the essence of the color white. White can represent a multitude of concepts. It may symbolize purity, peace, a fresh start, mourning, surrender, defiance, or simply elegance.
However, in the courtroom, where public opinion often forms before any evidence is presented, attire can convey a significant message.
Howard-Taylor’s appearance marked her return to court regarding charges linked to an investigation into an alleged international drug trafficking network.
She has refuted the allegations, and her legal team has questioned certain aspects of her detention while expressing concerns about her health.
Thus, her presence today held a significance that extended well beyond mere fashion.
She was not entering the courtroom as the woman who once stood alongside the President of Liberia; she was stepping in as a defendant. The same applies to Bondoo.
The Executive Mansion has long symbolized closeness to the nation’s highest office. In contrast, the courtroom embodies a different principle: a space where titles, political ties, and past privileges should hold less weight than the law and the evidence presented.
This is perhaps why the starkness of white is so striking. It creates a visual paradox. The women find themselves amidst allegations, legal struggles, and uncertainty, yet they maintain an outward calm.
However, interpreting the color as a sign of innocence would be misleading. Clothing does not equate to innocence, just as accusations do not confirm guilt.
Both women deserve the presumption of innocence until a qualified court rules otherwise. Yet, newspapers go beyond merely reporting courtroom events.
The images that define an era are often captured in moments like these, and Friday’s image could very well become one of them.
A former Vice President, clad in white, steps into a courtroom as the nation looks on. This scene strips away the usual symbols of power. There’s no presidential podium, no official motorcade, no state ceremony, and no executive authority in sight. Just a courtroom, and the color white.
There’s a certain poetic irony in this situation. For years, Liberians have been conditioned to associate power with dark suits, official vehicles, security details, and grand offices.
Yet here we have two women, once at the heart of power, appearing in white before the courts—perhaps conveying dignity, calmness, defiance, or simply a personal choice in style.
Ultimately, the meaning of this moment rests with them, while history will interpret it in its own way.
But what stands out is the broader context: Liberia is witnessing former leaders being held accountable in institutions meant to transcend political power.
This may be the most significant takeaway. The courtroom does not concern itself with who once wielded power; it focuses on the evidence presented.
Today, Jewel Howard-Taylor entered that courtroom in white, while the law will have to articulate its findings in black and white.

2026.9.4 TAYLOR LEAVES CUSTODY UNDER HOUSE ARREST AS DRUG CASE CONTINUES
MONROVIA – Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has been released from custodial detention on compassionate grounds, but her legal troubles remain unresolved after Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman Feika ordered her to remain under house arrest.
The ruling came after Taylor appeared before the court on Friday, September 4, 2026, to seek compassionate release based on her reported medical condition and the need for continued medical care.

2026.9.4 Witness Alleges Drug Network Sought Howard-Taylor’s Protection, Discussed Plot to Kill Weah
MONROVIA — An alleged transnational cocaine network sought political protection from then-Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor and discussed a plot to assassinate then-President George Weah, a senior police investigator testified Friday.
Repheal Wilson, acting commissioner of the Liberia National Police’s Crime Services Division, made the allegations as the prosecution’s first witness at Howard-Taylor’s preliminary examination before the Monrovia City Court. His testimony is untested. It has not been subjected to cross-examination, the state has not yet produced the underlying evidence, and no court has made any finding on it. Howard-Taylor and her co-defendants deny the allegations.
Wilson testified that investigators documented meetings involving Howard-Taylor during her tenure as vice president from 2018 to 2024, and that members of the alleged organization sought access to her because of the office she held.
He said investigators also uncovered discussions about a plot to assassinate Weah while he was president. Prosecutors have not put the evidence for that allegation before the court.
Wilson said he supervised the investigation into what prosecutors describe as a trafficking organization operating in Liberia, Dubai, Nigeria and other jurisdictions between 2021 and 2024. Investigators established connections between Liberian and foreign nationals who met in Dubai before traveling to Liberia to set up operations that went beyond legitimate business, he said, and the group sought access to senior government officials who could shield its activities.
Investigators deployed covert recording equipment at several meetings and obtained video the prosecution says captured discussions of cocaine trafficking, financial transactions and efforts to secure official protection, Wilson said.
One of the foreign nationals, identified in court as Nicholas, told the group’s Liberian contacts that it trafficked cocaine and wanted Liberia written into its international distribution route, Wilson said. The group again sought protection to make that possible, he said.
Wilson also referred to about US$250 million tied to the broader operation. He did not tell the court how investigators arrived at the figure or point to evidence tracing the money to any defendant.
The investigation continued after the change of government, Wilson said, and investigators later identified additional people they say were connected to the organization. The state’s case is that this was a long-running international enterprise rather than a single shipment.
Defense lawyers are expected to challenge the credibility of the investigation and the prosecution’s reading of the evidence.
The hearing continues before Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco, who must decide whether the state has shown probable cause to send the case to Criminal Court for trial. Probable cause is a far lower threshold than the proof beyond a reasonable doubt the state would need at trial, where it would have to establish that the network existed, that the recordings and other evidence are authentic and admissible, and that each defendant knowingly took part in the offenses charged.

2026.8.26 Liberia’s ex-vice president will await trial on drug trafficking and other charges in prison
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia’s former vice president was sent to prison on Tuesday to await trial on drug trafficking and other charges, after a court in the West African country denied her request to be released on humanitarian grounds for medical treatment.
Jewel Howard-Taylor’s lawyers asked the court for her to remain at a local hospital in Monrovia to receive treatment for a health emergency. She suffered an asthma attack and her blood pressure was high while in police custody after her arrest, according to local media reports.
Alongside three other foreign nationals charged in absentia, the former vice president and wife of former president, Charles Taylor, is facing multiple charges for drug trafficking, money laundering and other offenses as part of an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics network. Howard-Taylor was vice president from 2018 to 2024.
She was arrested on Aug. 19 at Roberts International Airport while she was attempting to leave Liberia.
Her lawyers have rejected the allegations, saying they are politically motivated, but investigators say the case is supported by travel records, audio recordings, witness testimonies and evidence of her alleged association with members of the transnational cocaine trafficking network.
Last month, Liberian authorities seized and burned around 4.2 metric tons of cocaine with a street value estimated to be about $317 million, also implicating some senior police officials in the trafficking operation, which has been linked to her.

2026.8.21 US carries out its first deportations under pact for Liberia to accept 1,200 non-Liberians

2026.8.21 US has sent deportees to many African countries, the latest one being Liberia. Here’s why
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Twenty migrants deported from the United States arrived in Liberia on Thursday, the first group of an eventual 1,200 deportees that the West African country says it will receive from the U.S. under a new deal.
Under a series of often-secret agreements, the Trump administration has deported thousands of people to two dozen countries that aren’t their own, as it pushes ahead with its immigration crackdown, advocates say.
An estimated 11 of those agreements, nearly half the total, are with African countries and the Liberia-U.S. agreement involves one of the largest numbers of such third-country deportations
Immigration lawyers say the practice is being used as a legal loophole to indirectly return some asylum-seekers to countries they fled. Authorities in Liberia have said the deportees being welcomed in their country can seek asylum there or leave if they choose.

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2026.8.20 From Passport Scandal to Cocaine Charges — Can the Past Catch Up with Taylor?

The formal charging of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor in connection with the alleged trafficking of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at US$19.2 million has transformed what was already a major narcotics investigation into one of the country’s most politically consequential criminal cases.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh says the charges followed months of investigation by the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force, working with international law-enforcement partners.

According to the government’s account, the former Vice President faces allegations including illicit importation, distribution and transportation of controlled substances, narcotics trafficking, criminal solicitation, facilitation and conspiracy, as well as money laundering.

Tweh has characterized the investigation as potentially involving organized criminal networks with a “very great potential transnational dimension.”

But as prosecutors prepare to build their case, another episode from Howard-Taylor’s tenure as Vice President is likely to attract renewed attention—the 2022 diplomatic-passport controversy involving businessman Sheik Bassirou Kante.

The two matters are legally distinct. There is no established evidence, based on the information currently available, that the 2022 passport affair was connected to the 2026 cocaine seizure.

Yet prosecutors could seek to use the earlier episode, if legally admissible and factually supported, to provide context about alleged access to official privileges, relationships with persons under foreign investigation or the misuse of government instruments.

That possibility makes the passport controversy politically relevant—but its legal value is far less straightforward.

The government’s case against Howard-Taylor is centered on the June 2026 seizure at Roberts International Airport.

The State says 237.6 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately US$19.2 million, were intercepted.

Tweh says the investigation has extended beyond the drugs themselves to the alleged network responsible for bringing them into Liberia.

Two Croatian nationals and one Ukrainian national have reportedly been indicted in absentia as alleged organizers or members of the same trafficking network.

The Justice Ministry has also identified several categories of persons of interest, including airport security officials, cargo handlers, scanner operators and personnel associated with airport ground handling. Former National Security Agency Deputy Director for Administration Joseph Gerald Smith has also reportedly been invited for questioning.

That broadening of the investigation is important.

It suggests that the government’s theory is not simply that narcotics arrived at RIA, but that investigators are attempting to determine how the shipment entered Liberia, who facilitated it, who knew about it and whether there was a wider network operating inside the country.

That is consistent with Tweh’s insistence that the matter is being treated as a national-security and organized-crime investigation rather than merely a drug-possession case.

“The investigation will follow the evidence wherever it leads, regardless of status or political affiliation,” Tweh said. “No one is above the law.”

The significance of that declaration will ultimately be measured by the evidence prosecutors present in court.

Why the 2022 passport affair is back in the conversation

Four years before the cocaine seizure, Liberia was confronted with another controversy involving a government-issued document and a person facing serious criminal allegations abroad.

In April 2022, U.S. authorities arrested Sheik Bassirou Kante in connection with allegations involving wire fraud and money laundering. During a search of his Maryland residence, authorities reportedly found a Liberian diplomatic passport. The discovery raised questions because Kante was not known to hold a formal diplomatic position.

The controversy prompted then-President George Manneh Weah to order an investigation into how Kante obtained the passport and to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to halt issuance of diplomatic passports without presidential authorization.

Indeed, Howard-Taylor’s office denied that she recommended or arranged the issuance of Kante’s diplomatic passport. Contemporary reporting quoted her office as saying that she had interacted with Kante but had not recommended issuance of the passport.

The State may believe that the passport episode helps establish a pattern involving access, relationships or alleged abuse of official privilege.

Contemporary reporting confirms that her office denied recommending the passport.

Therefore, if prosecutors want to connect the passport affair to the cocaine case, they would need evidence capable of establishing a specific and legally relevant connection.

That could be substantially different from simply presenting the 2022 scandal to the jury and asking jurors to draw their own conclusions.

This is perhaps the strongest theoretical argument available to prosecutors—but also one that requires careful construction.

The Justice Minister’s position raises the stakes

Tweh’s public posture is significant. His declaration that the investigation will follow the evidence “wherever it leads” is an important statement of prosecutorial neutrality.

It means the Justice Ministry is attempting to frame the prosecution as evidence-driven rather than politically driven.

That will be particularly important because Howard-Taylor is not an ordinary defendant.

She is a former Vice President and a major political figure associated with the previous administration.

The prosecution of such a figure inevitably carries political implications regardless of the evidence.

The State must prove the charges.

That is particularly important because the allegations involve several distinct legal concepts—trafficking, conspiracy, facilitation and money laundering.

Each requires prosecutors to establish the necessary elements through admissible evidence.

If the government alleges that proceeds from narcotics trafficking were concealed, transferred or integrated into legitimate financial activity, investigators may need to establish the movement and origin of funds.

That could bring financial records, bank transactions, business structures, communications and intermediaries into the case.

This is where an international investigation becomes particularly important.

Tweh’s description of the case as having a potential “transnational dimension” suggests that investigators are looking beyond Liberia’s borders.

If foreign law-enforcement agencies possess financial, communications or travel evidence connecting individuals in Liberia to an international trafficking network, that evidence could become more important than political associations from 2022.

In other words, the strongest case against Howard-Taylor will ultimately be the one that can independently reconstruct the alleged 2026 operation.

Howard-Taylor’s earlier position on the drug fight

There is also an important political irony in the case. Howard-Taylor has previously called for due process in the fight against drugs and warned that the destruction of seized narcotics should not compromise the integrity of prosecutions.

That position could now become relevant to the broader political debate.

A separate cocaine seizure reportedly valued at hundreds of millions of dollars elsewhere in West Africa has intensified calls for stronger regional action.

That regional context matters.

West Africa has long been viewed as vulnerable to international trafficking networks because of its geographic position between major production and consumer markets.

The ports, airports and commercial networks therefore represent potential points of vulnerability.

A successful prosecution could strengthen confidence in Liberia’s ability to investigate transnational narcotics networks.

A failed prosecution, particularly one perceived to have been politically driven, could have the opposite effect.

If prosecutors possess credible evidence connecting the 2022 passport affair to the 2026 investigation, they should present that evidence through the appropriate legal process.

But they should not assume that the existence of a previous controversy automatically establishes a “pattern.”

A pattern requires more than two events involving the same public figure.

It requires common features that are genuinely probative of an issue in dispute.

Justice Minister Tweh has placed the government’s credibility behind a simple proposition, “The investigation will follow the evidence wherever it leads, regardless of status or political affiliation.”

That promise should be tested objectively.

If evidence clears individuals initially considered suspects, they should be cleared.

If evidence implicates people outside Howard-Taylor’s political circle, they should be investigated.

If evidence implicates government officials currently serving under the Unity Party administration, the same standard should apply.

And if evidence ultimately connects Howard-Taylor to the cocaine network, her former office should provide no shield.

That would give real meaning to the minister’s claim that no one is above the law.

The 2022 passport scandal may return to public discussion because it provides a politically striking backdrop to the prosecution of a former Vice President on major narcotics and money-laundering charges.

But politically significant evidence is not necessarily legally admissible evidence.

The passport affair and the cocaine case are, on the information currently available, two separate episodes.

The prosecution’s challenge is therefore not simply to tell a compelling story. It is to prove the story.

The cocaine case will test whether the country can pursue an extraordinarily powerful defendant without lowering its evidentiary standards—and whether its prosecutors can distinguish between a compelling political narrative and a provable criminal case.

Until the evidence is tested in court, Howard-Taylor and every other accused person remains presumed innocent under Liberian law.

2026.8.20 Liberia charges former vice president with drug trafficking and other offenses
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia has charged former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering and other offenses as part of an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics network, the Justice Ministry said Wednesday.
Howard-Taylor, who was vice president from 2018 to 2024, was stopped while attempting to leave Liberia at Roberts International Airport and taken to Liberia National Police headquarters, the ministry said in a statement.
She faces charges including unlicensed importation, sale, distribution and transportation of controlled substances, drug trafficking, criminal solicitation, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Howard-Taylor was married to former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who was convicted by an international war crimes court for sponsoring atrocities in Sierra Leone.
The government also charged three foreigners in absentia for their alleged roles in the network: Croatians Nikolai Ivancic and Mihovil Vrovac and Ukrainian Tara Zaderieko.
Authorities said they would pursue measures to locate and apprehend them.
The charges follow last month’s announcement of Liberia’s largest-ever drug seizure — tons of cocaine worth about $336 million, which authorities said implicated senior police officials. Both cases were not connected.
In recent years, West Africa has emerged as a key transit route for cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe, with smugglers taking advantage of porous borders and weak enforcement in parts of the region.

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2026.8.20 SAUDI RICE TRIAL OPENS WEDNESDAY AFTER 15 JURORS CHOSEN FOR 13 DEFENDANTS
MONROVIA — The long-awaited trial over the alleged mishandling of a Saudi Arabian rice donation is set to open Wednesday, August 19, following the completion of jury selection at Criminal Court “C” in Monrovia.
The court on Tuesday, August 18, empaneled 15 jurors to hear the case involving 13 former government officials accused of illegally handling a humanitarian rice shipment intended for vulnerable Liberians and victims of disasters.
The panel consists of six men and nine women, completing the number of jurors required for the proceedings to move forward.
At the center of the case is a 2023 donation from Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. The consignment contained 29,412 bags of rice, with each bag weighing 25 kilograms. The total shipment was approximately 735,300 kilograms and was designated to assist an estimated 88,236 beneficiaries.
Prosecutors allege that 25,054 bags were improperly handled or disposed of in violation of the intended purpose of the donation. The indictment places the estimated value of the rice allegedly involved at about US$425,918, correcting an earlier figure of US$500,000 that had been reported.
The defendants have denied the allegations and entered pleas of not guilty.
They are facing multiple criminal counts, including theft of property, economic sabotage, misapplication of entrusted property, abuse of office and criminal conspiracy.
With the jury now seated, Wednesday’s proceedings are expected to mark the beginning of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence. Prosecutors are expected to call witnesses and introduce evidence in support of the indictment, while defense attorneys will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s case through cross-examination and later present their own evidence.
The rice was officially received by Liberia in 2023 for humanitarian distribution through the National Disaster Management Agency.
The trial is expected to attract significant public attention because of the number of former officials involved and the humanitarian purpose of the donated food.
All 13 defendants remain legally presumed innocent unless the prosecution proves the charges against them beyond the required legal standard and a competent court finds them guilty.

2026.8.17 ‘Herbalist’ Charged after Collecting US$7,200 to Reverse Death Curse
MONROVIA – A woman paid US$7,200 over five weeks to a man who told her she had three days to live unless she funded a series of spiritual sacrifices, according to a Liberia National Police charge sheet that says none of it was real.
Police have charged Saah Fayiah Jr., 61, also known as Alahaji Bamba, with theft of property under Section 15.51 of the Revised Penal Law. The Anti-Theft Squad of the Central Security Division arrested him on Aug. 11 and filed the charge sheet on Aug. 13. Investigators concluded that Fayiah is not a herbalist, that nobody paid him to kill the complainant, and that he used claims of traditional healing to take money from her.
The account below is drawn from the charge sheet, which contains the statements of the complainant, a witness and Fayiah himself. None of it has been tested in court.
The complainant, a resident of Fendell, told police the calls began on July 8 while she was traveling toward Roberts International Airport. The caller said he did not know her, that a man had paid him US$5,000 to kill her, that he was a herbalist who had already prepared medicine to end her life, and that she had three days to act. One day had already passed.
She sent LD$5,000 to cover his transport and he came to her home in the Last Turning Point area of Fendell. There, she told police, he performed a ritual with a horn and showed her a red substance he said was medicine planted in Cape Mount to kill her. He then said his jinn was angry that he had interfered to save her and demanded US$1,500 for a sacrifice. She gave him US$1,200.
The demands continued, according to her statement, with requests for money to buy a cow, a goat and a chicken for further sacrifices. She said she paid US$7,200 in installments in all. When he demanded another US$3,000, she managed US$2,000 and then told him she had nothing left.
On Aug. 11 he asked for more. She said she had US$100 and he told her to bring it to Clara Town. The Anti-Theft Squad was already on the case, and officers arrested him at the meeting point.
A witness who identified himself as the complainant’s brother told police he went with her to six meetings with Fayiah, who presented himself as a native doctor, and that she carried money each time without explaining the full circumstances to him. He said Fayiah obtained his number and called him when he could not reach her, and that he went with her to the police station on Aug. 11.
Fayiah gave investigators a different account. He acknowledged calling her while she traveled to the airport but said the conversation was about a land dispute, and that she sent him LD$5,000 for transport. He said that at his Clara Town home he placed an empty carton in front of her, told her to put in US$1 and her ring, and that money appeared after he consulted his oracle. He said he told her a sacrifice was required before she could collect it, that she left promising to return with cash, and that she came back with police.
Police describe Fayiah as a suspected serial scammer and say their case rests on the complainant’s account, the witness statement and cash-transfer records. He is presumed innocent.

2026.6.8 Five-Armed Robbery Suspects Sent to Court Within One Week in Bong
GBARNGA, Bong County, June 8, 2026 — The Liberia National Police (LNP) in Bong County has forwarded five alleged armed robbery suspects to court within the past week as authorities intensify efforts to combat violent crime and improve public safety across the county.
The latest case involves two Gbarnga residents, identified as Samson Kwehai, 23, and James Kparkilah, 20, both of the Sugar Hill Community, who have been charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Armed Robbery, and Theft of Property following an alleged motorcycle robbery on June 4.
According to police investigators, motorcyclist Joseph S. Kollie of Millionaire Quarter reportedly picked up Kwehai as a passenger from the Place to Be Entertainment Center on the night of the incident.
While traveling to the requested destination, Kollie allegedly became suspicious after the passenger made a phone call and decided to stop before reaching the final location.
Police said a dispute later erupted over transportation fare, during which two additional men reportedly arrived on a motorcycle.
One of the individuals was allegedly armed with a handgun and, together with the others, threatened the victim before making away with his Bajaj motorcycle.
Authorities disclosed that officers, with support from community members, launched an immediate operation that led to the arrest of two suspects later that same night.
Two motorcycles believed to be linked to the incident were also recovered during the operation.
Following police investigations, the suspects were formally charged and forwarded to court.
The case was processed by Depot One Investigator Detective Roberson Mombo and approved by Bong County Crime Services Division Commander SP. James Kartoe and General Police Detachment Commander ACP. William W. Johnson.
The latest arrests bring the number of alleged armed robbery suspects sent to court in Bong County within a week to five, highlighting ongoing law enforcement efforts to address criminal activities and strengthen security in the county.
Police authorities have meanwhile urged residents to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious activities in their communities.

2026.6.4 In Grand Bassa: Murder Suspect Finally Arrested After Years on the Run
Reports from Grand Bassa say Law enforcement authorities in the county have brought before the court a man accused of killing his wife nearly ten years ago and subsequently disappearing from the area. The accused, Sackie Kollie, is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of his wife, Martha Kollie, an incident that investigators say occurred in Gboya Town, District Two, in May 2016.
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County: Reports from Grand Bassa say Law enforcement authorities in the county have brought before the court a man accused of killing his wife nearly ten years ago and subsequently disappearing from the area.
The accused, Sackie Kollie, is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of his wife, Martha Kollie, an incident that investigators say occurred in Gboya Town, District Two, in May 2016.
Police say preliminary findings indicate that the alleged killing stemmed from a domestic dispute after the suspect reportedly encountered his wife with another man. Investigators allege that the altercation escalated and resulted in the woman’s death.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Crime Services Division officer Sergeant Isaac Dweh said the suspect left the county shortly after the incident and remained beyond the reach of authorities for several years.
According to the investigator, numerous efforts were made to locate Kollie, but he was able to avoid arrest until recently.
Police disclosed that the breakthrough came on May 30, 2026, when officers tracked the suspect to Senyah Town in Bong County and took him into custody without incident.
Following his arrest, the Liberia National Police completed its investigation and formally charged Kollie with murder before transferring the case to the Buchanan Magisterial Court.
Authorities say the development demonstrates that criminal investigations can remain active for years and that suspects will continue to be pursued regardless of how much time has elapsed.
Court proceedings are expected to begin as prosecutors prepare to present the case. The allegations against the defendant have not yet been proven in court, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence throughout the judicial process.

2026.5.27 For Killing Three Grandchildren, Grandmother in Nimba County Sentenced to Life in prison
Sanniquellie, Nimba County—A 56-year-old woman has been found guilty of killing three of her grandchildren in Menla Town, District #9, Nimba County. She was sentenced to life in prison by the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquellie on Tuesday, May 26. Serena F. Garlawolu, a resident judge at the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Sanniquellie, rendered the decision. The prosecution used forensic and eyewitness evidence to link the defendant, Mary Giah, to the killings, and was found guilty.
John Miah, the county attorney, said that prosecutors created a timetable demonstrating that the children’s parents had left the home and asked Giah to look after them. According to investigators, Giah killed the children while the parents were away using objects discovered by the police. County attorneys offered those items to the court throughout the hearings. “We presented all available evidence in our case, including the instruments used in the killings,” County Attorney Miah told reporters after the ruling.
The court’s decision supports the victims’ relatives and the community. Courtroom response and ensuing actions erupted in emotions as the judge read her sentence. The victims’ relatives wept in secret as other families looked at one another in disbelief. Throughout the hearing, Giah occasionally seemed confused. When given a chance to speak, she told the court that she was unable to adequately explain her actions and called them the “work of the devil,” pleading for pardon.
Judge Garlawolu sentenced the defendant to life in prison after considering the facts and aggravating circumstances. Giah will be moved to the Grand Gedeh Corrections Center per the court’s ruling, where she is anticipated to spend the rest of her life. Menla Town and the surrounding areas were rocked by news of the murders and the punishment. The episode was terrifying and unexpected for the neighborhood, according to neighbors.
Community leaders stated that the tragedy drew attention to the vulnerabilities that arise when children are placed in informal care and urged for greater mental health support as well as enhanced awareness of child safety. The case raised attention to how violent crimes against minors are handled by the local legal system. The prosecution claimed that in order to obtain the conviction, they relied on tangible evidence, witness accounts, and the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths.
Giah’s mental state and requests for forgiveness were used by defense attorneys to plead for mercy, but the court determined that the seriousness of the offense called for a life sentence. The three victims were recognized by family members and court documents as the couple’s children who had gone to the property on the day of the event. The names of the children have not been made public by the community until all next of kin have been notified and formal procedures have been completed. Although the defense may file an appeal, authorities claim the trial court’s decision is final. Counseling and child-safety outreach initiatives are being coordinated by local social services and non-governmental organizations for the mourning family and community.

2026.5.18 Jury Splits 6-6 in Police Officer’s Death Trial, Forcing Mistrial
MONROVIA — The jury at Criminal Court ‘A’ deadlocked evenly on Monday in the murder trial of a commercial driver accused of killing a Liberia National Police officer, forcing the court to declare a mistrial and leaving prosecutors to decide whether to retry the case.
The 12-member panel split 6-6 after hours of deliberation, unable to agree on whether Francis Nana intentionally killed Officer Mark D. Bracewell or whether the officer’s death resulted from a traffic accident. The hung jury sets up a potential retrial and deals a major procedural blow to the prosecution, which had sought a life sentence.
The verdict landed before an audience of roughly 200 uniformed officers from the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service and Liberia National Fire Service, many of whom packed the courtroom in solidarity with Bracewell.
Defense attorney Jeremiah Samuel Dugbo, in closing arguments, urged jurors not to convict where reasonable doubt existed, invoking both Biblical and Quranic scripture — Matthew 27:4 and Surah 17:33 — as a caution against condemning an innocent man.
“The prosecution has failed to prove intent,” Dugbo told jurors. “This was a tragic traffic incident, not murder.”
The defense argued the state failed to establish malice aforethought, the legal threshold required under Liberian law for a murder conviction, contending that Nana and Bracewell had no prior relationship, conflict or confrontation before the fatal encounter.
“There is absolutely no evidence that Francis Nana intended to kill Officer Bracewell,” Dugbo said.
The defense also pointed to the Liberia National Police First Quarter Road Traffic Accident Report, published April 3, which documented 478 traffic accidents between January and March, resulting in 71 deaths and more than 300 injuries. Defense lawyers noted that none of those fatalities had been prosecuted as murder, arguing that prosecutors elevated this case to murder only because the victim was a police officer.
Prosecutors pushed back sharply. They argued that the manner in which Bracewell was dragged by Nana’s vehicle demonstrated a deliberate disregard for human life that far exceeded ordinary recklessness or negligence.
“The conduct of the defendant showed malice,” prosecutors said. “This was not ordinary recklessness.”
The state urged jurors to return a guilty verdict carrying life imprisonment, insisting the defendant had ample opportunity to stop the vehicle but continued driving while the officer was in danger.
The case drew national attention from the start. According to court records, Bracewell was attempting to stop Nana’s vehicle during a traffic encounter in Monrovia when he was dragged and sustained the injuries that killed him. His death as an officer on duty prompted immediate calls for accountability from within the LNP and reignited public debate over road safety and police interactions with motorists.
The central dispute throughout the trial — whether the incident was murder or a fatal accident — ultimately proved too close for the jury to resolve, producing the even split that ended the proceedings without conviction or acquittal.
Prosecutors must now decide whether to retry Nana before a newly selected jury.

2026.5.16 Liberian Woman Alleges Years of Abuse by Brother, Accuses Police of Ignoring Complaints
A young Liberian woman has sparked widespread public concern after sharing a heartbreaking account of alleged physical abuse by her own brother, claiming the violence began when she was just 11 years old and has continued into adulthood without intervention from either family members or authorities.
In an emotional statement posted on social media, the woman explained that she had long avoided bringing her personal struggles online because of the mixed reactions and criticism often associated with public disclosures. However, she said she felt compelled to speak out after repeated attempts to seek help allegedly failed.
“When I created my page, I promised myself that I will never bring my problems on social media because of the mixed reactions and opinions, but apparently this is my last resort since the LNP refused to help me,” she wrote.
According to her account, the alleged abuse started during her childhood while she and her brother were growing up without their parents consistently around. She said she initially believed the behavior would eventually stop, but instead it escalated over the years.
The woman alleged that despite informing her parents about the repeated assaults, little action was taken beyond verbal reprimands. She further claimed that her brother would boast afterward that nothing would happen to him and that he could continue attacking her without consequences.
Hoping to receive protection, she said she repeatedly reported the matter to the Liberia National Police. However, she alleged that officers dismissed her complaints once they learned the accused was her brother, advising her to settle the matter “family way.”
The victim said the most recent alleged assault occurred three days ago around 1:00 AM, when she was repeatedly struck in the face. According to her statement, she cried for help but no one intervened. She claimed her mother scolded her after she called for assistance, while her father allegedly did not answer her calls.
She also alleged that the abuse has left her partially deaf in one ear and nearly blind in one eye.
“Is there any law in Liberia that states a brother should hit his sister?” she questioned in the post directed at the Liberia National Police. “Is it okay if I was physically abused because he’s my brother?”
The woman identified the alleged abuser as Ibrahim Morris Kowah.
In addition to the physical violence, she accused him of stealing from her and verbally insulting her, stating that any confrontation often resulted in further assaults.
She explained that although many people have questioned why she remains in the same household, financial hardship and lack of alternative shelter have left her with nowhere else to go.
“It’s not like I don’t wanna leave, but I got nowhere else to go,” she wrote.
Her story has since gone viral across social media, prompting intense discussions about domestic violence, family abuse, and the handling of such complaints by law enforcement authorities in Liberia.
Several social media users have called for authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegations and ensure the victim receives protection and support. Others have raised concerns about the lack of accessible shelters and support systems for abuse victims facing violence within their own homes.
The allegations against Ibrahim Morris Kowah remain unproven, and no official statement from the Liberia National Police regarding the claims had been publicly released at the time of this report.

2026.5.8 Sinkor Bouncer Charged With Manslaughter After Hiding Unconscious Woman’s Body Under Mattress
MONROVIA — The Liberia National Police have formally charged a 27-year-old Sinkor bouncer with manslaughter and negligent homicide after investigators say he concealed the unconscious body of a young woman beneath a mattress in his father’s Gaye Town apartment rather than seek emergency medical help, leaving her to die.
Thomas S. Lahun was arrested the night of Friday, April 24, 2026, in connection with the death of Annette Suah, a petty businesswoman from New Matadi Estate whose body was discovered by Lahun’s father the following day after he detected a strong odor coming from the room. A police charge sheet dated May 6, 2026, formally cited Lahun under Sections 14.2(a) and 14.3 of Liberia’s revised Penal Code.
According to investigators, the events that led to Suah’s death began in the early hours of Thursday, April 23, when she and Lahun, described in the charge sheet as “intimate friends,” met at Perry’s Bar, also referred to as Friend’s Bar Entertainment Center, on Cheeseman Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets in Sinkor. The two reportedly spent roughly five hours drinking beer and smoking shisha, from around 4:30 a.m. until the bar closed at approximately 9:30 a.m.
After leaving the bar, police say the pair proceeded to the one-bedroom apartment of Lahun’s father, Emmanuel S. Lahun, in Gaye Town, Old Road, where Lahun obtained a key from a neighbor and let them both in. They remained in the apartment for several hours before deciding to leave sometime between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Police say Suah told Lahun she wanted to shower before they left. When prolonged silence drew no response to his repeated calls, Lahun entered the bathroom and found her lying unconscious in the bathtub with foam coming from her mouth. He attempted to revive her, wiping away the foam and administering first aid, but she remained unresponsive. He then called a friend identified only as “Kenny,” who advised him to either take her to the hospital or report the matter to police.
What investigators say happened next forms the crux of the criminal case against him.
As Lahun was attempting to dress Suah to take her to the hospital, police allege he saw his father approaching the house and panicked. Instead of calling for help, he placed her body on the floor and covered it with bedding and a mattress. He did not disclose the situation to his father that evening, though the charge sheet notes he later told him he “wanted to say something” but was afraid.
The following morning, Emmanuel Lahun returned to the apartment, noticed a strong odor and found Suah’s body beneath the bed. He alerted a neighbor, Paweh Coleman, who advised him to contact authorities. Police arrested Thomas Lahun later that night.
Lahun works as a bouncer at Cigar Hub on Cheeseman Avenue. Authorities have not publicly released a medical report establishing the precise cause of Suah’s death, but investigators concluded he acted recklessly and negligently and recommended the charges now before the court.

2026.2.17 Police charge Nigerian pastor with statutory rape, sexual abuse of minor
KAKATA, Margibi County — Police in Kakata have charged and forwarded to court a 46-year-old Nigerian pastor for allegedly sexually assaulting and impregnating a 17-year-old girl, authorities said.
The suspect, Apostle Ernest Ihejimeonu, faces charges including statutory rape, sexual abuse of a ward, criminal solicitation and criminal facilitation. He has been remanded at Kakata Central Prison pending court proceedings, police said.
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The Liberia National Police said the charges stem from allegations that the pastor engaged in sexual relations with the minor and later provided money to facilitate an abortion. Investigators said the case was reported after the girl disclosed to her parents that Ihejimeonu was responsible for her pregnancy.
Under Liberia’s New Penal Law of Liberia, statutory rape involves sexual intercourse with a person younger than 18. The law classifies the offense as a felony and provides for imprisonment upon conviction. The law also prohibits sexual abuse involving minors where the accused holds a position of authority or trust.
Police said the suspect denied the allegations during questioning, stating he only provided financial assistance to the girl because she was a member of his church, The Light of God International Ministry in the Green Hill community.
However, investigators said they obtained digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages and audio recordings, allegedly linking the suspect to the pregnancy and discussions about terminating it. Authorities also allege the pastor transferred more than LD$20,000 to the girl.
Police said the suspect’s wife brought the teenager to Kakata Police Station on Feb. 7 and accused her of attempting to damage her husband’s reputation. The girl later provided information that led to the criminal investigation, authorities said.
Investigators also allege that during the 2023 election period, Ihejimeonu transported the minor to Lofa County under the pretext of attending a church event. Police said the trip may have been connected to voter registration activities. Authorities said the girl was under the legal voting age at the time.
Police confirmed that Ihejimeonu also works as a geography teacher at Lango Lippaye High School and other schools in Kakata.
Meanwhile, women’s rights advocates and child protection groups are calling for a fair and transparent trial. They cited Liberia’s Children’s Law of Liberia, which guarantees protection for minors against sexual exploitation and abuse.
Margibi County Gender Coordinator Danielton Assilton said authorities and community members must cooperate to ensure justice as being taken to jail on pre trail detention does not end the case noting that people must muster the courage to show up in court to pursue their case.
Ihejimeonu remains in custody pending a formally indictment by the grand jury of the 13th judicial circuit court.

2026.1.27 Man on the run After Alleged Murder of 25-year-old Girlfriend
PAYNESVILLE, LIBERIA: A Liberian national identified as Edwin Mulbah has come to a point of controversy and is said to be on the run after a violent encounter with his longtime girlfriend, Rachel Korto, that reportedly led to the lady’s death in the Soul Clinic Community, in Paynesville.
The incident occurred on Sunday night and has since left residents shocked, and with many raising urgent questions about domestic violence in Liberia.
The altercation reportedly escalated when Rachel was struck with a cooking pot and mocked with a frying pan, while Mulbah allegedly turned up the music in their room to mask the sounds of the attack.
These details, coupled with the circumstances surrounding the attack, have intensified calls for accountability and swift action from authorities.
According to report, Rachel had spent the evening with friends before returning home, where sources indicate Mulbah arrived around 11:00 pm on January 25, 2026, sparking an argument that quickly turned violent.
Report indicate that a minor living with the couple, whose identity is withheld for protection, witnessed Rachel collapse and lose consciousness as Mulbah fled the scene, leaving neighbors and family in immediate distress.
Neighbors responded immediately, rushing Rachel to Benson Hospital in a desperate effort to save her. Due to the severity of her injuries, hospital authorities referred her to John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
In the aftermath, Rachel’s family has formally appealed to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Justice, the Government of Liberia, and the Liberia National Police to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, secure the immediate arrest of Mulbah, and hold all responsible parties accountable under Liberian law.
As of press time, the Liberia National Police had not confirmed Mulbah’s whereabouts, leaving the community anxious for answers and reinforcing the urgent need for stronger protections, public awareness campaigns, and systemic measures to safeguard victims of domestic violence across Liberia.

2026.1.12 National Security Agency Officer jailed for allegedly sodomizing a minor
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia — The Monrovia City Court on Monday ordered the incarceration of an officer of the National Security Agency following his arrest on allegations of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy.
The defendant, Peter Bon Jallah, 63, was remanded to jail after police charged him with gang rape, statutory rape, and kidnapping, pending trial.
According to the charge sheet filed by the Liberia National Police, Jallah was arrested on January 7, 2026, and subsequently investigated by the Women and Children Protection Section (WACPS) following a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother.
Police allege that the victim, identified by the initials A.H.B.A. to protect his identity, was sexually abused on multiple occasions between November 29 and December 24, 2025, at Jallah’s residence in the Air Field, Sinkor Sharks Community, where the boy reportedly performed domestic tasks in exchange for small payments.
Investigators further allege that on January 1, 2026, the defendant lured the boy under the pretext of buying him football boots, transported him to a property on Camp Johnson Road, and held him there until January 3, during which time he was allegedly gang-raped by Jallah and two unidentified adult males.
Police said the victim reported being given food that made him dizzy before the alleged assault occurred.
According to investigators, the victim was later abandoned on 15th Street, Sinkor, near Payne Avenue, late on January 3, 2026. He was found in distress by passersby, who assisted in contacting his family. The boy was subsequently taken to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, where he remains under medical care.
A medical report from the hospital’s One-Stop Center, cited by police, noted physical injuries consistent with sexual assault.
During preliminary investigations, police said witness statements, crime-scene visits, and GSM phone data placed the defendant within the vicinity of the alleged crime scenes, contradicting his account. Investigators also reported that the victim accurately described the defendant’s residence and vehicle.
Jallah has denied all allegations, telling investigators that the victim had never entered his compound and that he had no contact with the boy at any time.
Following interviews with the victim, complainant, witnesses, and the suspect, police said they established probable cause to proceed with charges.
WACPS investigators have formally charged Jallah and “other persons to be identified” with gang rape under Section 14.70(2), statutory rape under Section 14.70(b), and kidnapping under Section 14.50(1) of Liberia’s Penal Law. The case is pending trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.

2026.1.9 HIV-positive woman says status disclosure led to stigma, loss of livelihood in Karnplay

Karnplay, Nimba County–A woman living with HIV in Karnplay says her confidential medical status was disclosed without her consent, triggering widespread stigma that upended her livelihood, education and social life, according to accounts from the woman and people familiar with the matter.

The woman, identified as Kou to protect her privacy, said a former colleague at EQUIP shared her HIV status with members of the Karnplay community after the end of an HIV-focused project in Ganta where she had been employed.

“Even my boyfriend left me. I can’t go back to Karnplay,” she said. “Everyone points fingers at me. I had to leave everything and move to my mother’s village.”

She furthered that the disclosure led to discrimination that coerced her to abandon her small business, withdraw from the university and ultimately leave the community in 2023.

Kou previously worked with EQUIP, a health NGO, in a role typically reserved for people living with HIV. It was within the employ of the organization she said she was outed.

And it was there, she revealed, that a former colleague—Oretha Harris, also aware of her status—had been telling residents in the area about her condition.

She mentioned that she reported the matter to the Karnplay Comprehensive Health Center, where clinicians provided counseling and invited the former colleague to a mediation session.

According to her, the colleague apologized, but no disciplinary action followed. She then took the complaint to the community chairman, who convened a traditional meeting involving both women that again ended with an apology.

Despite advice from others to pursue a formal complaint with the police, she revealed that she declined, choosing to accept the apology and move on.

That decision proved costly as the impact of the disclosure soon intensified like a raging inferno.

“Customers stopped buying the roasted meat and meat gravy I sold to support myself, effectively collapsing my small business”. She also said some hairdressers refused to braid her hair, citing fear of contracting HIV.

“When she brought her meat to sell, people refused to buy,” said a Karnplay resident who asked not to be named. “They didn’t want anything to do with her.”

People living with HIV continue to come under discrimination and harassment from the public, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum.

In 2023, Dominic Bropleh, a gay man living with HIV, accused FHI360 of outing his HIV status by deliberately placing his photo on a placard as a person living with the virus for its social and behavioral change campaign.

The organization later tried to remove the placard from across the country though its attempt was futile. And although the public health law calls for penalization, no action was taken nor was Bropleh compensated in accordance with the law.

There are 36,000 individuals living with HIV across the country, according to the National AIDS Commission. Out of that number, women like Kou and others account for two-third of those . “Women by far constitute the most affected group in Liberia’s HIV burden,” Dr. Cecelia Nuta, chairperson of the Commission said during a press conference in November 2025.

UNAIDS data underscores these concerns. Among adults aged 15–49, HIV prevalence stands at 1.2% for women, double the 0.6% for men. Translating these percentages into numbers, approximately 24,000 of Liberia’s 36,000 HIV-positive citizens are women, making them the clear majority of those affected.

Health experts point to a combination of biological, social, and economic factors as drivers of this disparity. Unequal access to healthcare, gender-based violence, poverty, and limited sexual health education for young girls and women are cited as major contributors.

People whose HIV status has been outed have recourse under the law. Sections 18.23, 18.24, 18.25, and 18.26 of the amended Public Health Law of the revised Liberia Code of Laws call for a fine of L$10,000, revocation or suspension of license or operating permit of license for individuals or organizations violating the confidentiality of persons or individuals living with HIV.

Not Employees, EQUIP Clarifies

The executive director of EQUIP-Liberia, Roland Suomie, said the organization is aware of the incident but highlighted that the individuals involved were volunteers and not employees.

“They received training, supervision and allowances to create awareness and do follow ups. They were not employees,” Suomie noted in a text message to journalRAGE. “EQUIP has a clear policy on confidentiality and breaching of this policy has serious consequences, including termination of contracts for employees.

He said his underling, Sam Tappiah, confirmed receiving the report of Kou. “He and other supervisors along with the HIV focal person at Karnplay Health Center investigated and intervened. I am told because of this Harriet was not allowed to volunteer with the next phase of the project being supported by Youth Alive.”

Local authorities confirmed that the matter was addressed through counseling and community mediation but acknowledged that no formal action was taken. The Karnplay Comprehensive Health Center said it provided counseling, while the community chairman facilitated dialogue between the parties. There has been no police investigation or court case related to the incident.

Stigma Hovers

Three years after the outing of her HIV status, Kou said the stigma continues to hover everywhere she goes. Employment continues to delude her everywhere she goes.

“She told me she couldn’t take a Peer Educator job because no one would work with her,” said an outreach worker with the Liberia Equality Network (LEN) in Nimba County, who has been in contact with Kou.

Kou’s case has raised concerns among advocates about violations of privacy and discrimination against People Living With HIV. Public disclosure of a person’s HIV status without consent can expose individuals to stigma, social exclusion and economic harm, undermining their dignity and access to health, education and employment, the outreach worker said.

A spokesperson for LEN said Kou’s dilemma, while it may not be isolated, is the first case they have dealt with. “This is the first one we actually dealt with. We don’t have rapid response support to at least help.”

The LEN spokesperson furthered that they have beefed up its awareness in the county to prevent the situation a la Kou from replicating.

“We have to keep providing awareness. It’s not just about her but the issue of misleading information and lack of confidentiality. We provide weekly awareness in our target areas. For her as an individual we can not do much; we tried reaching out to LIWEN but didn’t hear anything from them.”

The foreseeable looks grim for Kou who has dropped out of university and relocated to her mother’s village to abscond from the icy stares of prying eyes. “Even my boyfriend left me. I can’t go back to Karnplay. Everyone points fingers at me.