BILL JARKLOH WRITES FROM PRISON

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

“Many people who know me, Bill K. Jarkloh, I guess, were surprised when they read on the FrontPageAfrica website, Heritage, The INQUIRER newspapers and heard on Star Radio that I was arrested and being detained at the Monrovia Central Prison on allegation of “Rape and Sodomy,” he said.

He said at all cost, the fact remains that “I am innocent, and I am being humiliated by a conspiracy masterminded and championed by Sorbor George”, a reporter of Star Radio in Monrovia. Mr. George and I lived in the same building but in separate apartments.

Besides, he said, “the conspiracy against him is also being masterminded by officials of the court.

“Oh People of Liberia, justice has remained injustice in this country. My experience that lands me to the Monrovia Central Prison on the Charge of “RAPE/SODOMY” is as bitter as any of those brought against the innocent though conspiracy,” he writes.

“All I say in this epistle is that I am at present detained on the crime of RAPE/SODOMY because the court officials instructed my arrest and detention for a crime I know nothing about,” Jarkloh said in his letter.

He claimed the Magistrate was instructed by some at the helm of power to deny my fiancée Korpo Kortimai bail because he and enemies of progress want Korpo and I to be brought to the South Beach together disgraced for a good we did. “But God says “the truth that is buried shall rise again,” he added.

He said the crux of the matter is that one Janjay, said to be a mother of eight-year-old “Tenesee” (Love) Samuels abandoned Love for more than one month and chased her out of their residence.

This minor was sleeping in street corners, video clubs and under market stalls. Love told Korpo, human right activist/personnel, how one Lincoln had abused her at a video club in the middle of the night.

Thereafter, he said, a lady rescued her and turned her over to Korpo as people in the community usually do when an abandoned or abused child was found. Korpo Kortimai, as usual, took “Love” to Love’s “mother” Janjay but Janjay told Korpo that because she Janjay didn’t want Love to run from the house again, (Korpo) should keep the child and counsel her.

But looking at the poor health situation, Korpo had reported this minor to the Women and Children Protection Unit of the LNP (Central). “Love was processed at the police Headquarters and taken to a “Safe Home”.

A week later, Janjay started to grumble Korpo to see the “Safe Home”, apparently thinking that sending Love there is for pecuniary gain to Korpo and her household. And because there are already envious people in the community that Korpo and I live, they have now connived; saying that my charming spouse, Korpo, “kidnapped” Love while I raped and sodomized the little girl.

The police investigation regarding the abandonment and raping of Love was ignored for whatsoever interest to order the issuance of a writ of arrest against me for “SODOMY/RAPE” without a police charge sheet; at the same time, warning Attorney Doyen who is insisting on outcome of police investigation to keep off the matter. Instead, Justice Johnnie Lewis said he preferred Attorney Sam T. Solomon to use Janjay and my enemies to incarcerate me at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) without the police report on the case and medical documents (report) to establish their claims against me.

Presently, my fiancée Korpo Kortimai has since been released upon filing a bail while I am still being detained without being prosecuted on the charges of rape and sodomy brought against me.

My fiancée and I have been good to Love and her mother. Unfortunately, our kindness has turned into bad and we are being paid with false charges just to destroy our hard earned reputation and characters. But let me reiterate, I Am Innocent, I need a speedy trial, I should not be kept without trial.

To my professional colleagues in the media, I am appealing to kindly do me justice by trying to get my sides of the story, instead of publishing one-sided story. Please try to reach me at the Monrovia Central Prison or my fiancée Korpo Kortimai who is available for interviews on the subject at bar.

I have noticed from the recent publications on the internet, newspapers and radio stations, none of my professional colleagues made effort to get my side of the story. Please remember there are two sides to every story and kindly do me justice to get my version of the story.

Besides, I would appreciate if the media will go beyond sources and contact all parties involved in this case including the Police Women and Children Unit, the Save Home, Assistant Montserrado County Attorney Witness Doyen and his Senior County Attorney Samuel Jacobs.

To conclude, let Mr. Sorbor George, a reporter of Star Radio in Monrovia know that he will not succeed to destroy me. I’m Innocent and with God above, I will majestically walk through the doors of the court when the case shall be judged. To my brothers and sisters, my friends and well wishers, let not be discouraged, I will definitely be set free.

I’m innocent and that the Almighty God whom we all serve will reward Sorbor George and all those who are plotting against me. No condition is permanent, I fear nothing, and my consciences are much clear.

Can you imagine, on four occasions, Mr. George has issued a lawsuit against me? To get the actual story and details, I encourage my professional media colleagues and human right activists to kindly reach me at the Central Prison. I want to speak out.

I’m appealing to the Press Union of Liberia to kindly press for a speedily and fair trial. If I committed a crime, I should be fairly prosecuted and not to be kept in detention for a protracted period without justice being done. Let me have my days in court and face justice. I’m hungry for justice; I am demanding a speedy trial.

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Bill Jarkloh is a Liberian journalist who lives and works in Monrovia. He blogs at Panwhan.blogspot.com and billkjarkloh.wordpress.com