By Grace Q. Bryant
A former officer of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Cheeseman Cole and others have been sent to court by the Liberia National Police for allegedly kidnapping and torturing 27 persons believed to be involved with homosexuality along the Roberts International Airport highway.
Defendants are Emmanuel Tarpeh, Marcus Galayi, James and Junior to be identified were charged in violation of Chapter 14, Section 14.20; Chapter 10, Section 10.1; Chapter 17, Section 17.11; Chapter 14, Section 14.51 and Chapter 15, Section 15.53 respectfully which are charged as Aggravated Assault Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Possession and Sale of Physical Objects for Lethal use, Felonious Restraint and Theft of Property
According to the police investigation, on October 8, a search and seizure warrant was issued on the premises of defendant Cole predicted upon a tip-off that several persons had gone missing and were being kept in a white fence owned by him and his collaborators.
The investigation revealed that during the search, defendant Cole was hiding in the bathroom that connects to his room and was arrested with one single barrel hand-made pistol, two live rounds, one of Liberian Passport belonging to Emmanuel Freeman who is also one of the complainant, assorted citizen and ordinary ID cards, one AFL uniform trousers, one AFL rain court, AFL overnight jacket, kitchen knife, screw driver, scissors, one black itel phone belonging to Alpha Grulee alis Abenego bad, an AFL helmet along with US$ 160 which he claimed to be his business money.
The investigation added that defendant Cole is in the constant habit of chatting with his victims on Facebook and inviting them to his RIA highway residence where he usually grabs them, ties and beats them and after beating them, he takes their phones and monies and threatens them not to tell anyone; if they did, he will expose them on their Facebook accounts telling the world that they are gays or homosexuals.
The investigation further that about 27 persons have fallen prey to defendant Cole on different dates and time amongst which he admitted to have interacted with six of these herein named victims under the pretense of disciplining them for their inhuman and cruelness to the existence of human life, but denied ever seen or interacting with Dominic Reneer and Winston Kortee.
The investigation established through defendant Emmanuel Tarpeh testimonies stated that defendant Cole interacted with victim Reneer and Kortee on separate dates and time at his residence during which time they were also tied, beaten and their money as well as their phones were taken away from them on different dates and time which evidence can be seen on the call log that was requested for.
The investigation explained that all the victims that defendant Cole interacted with were all seen alive and talked to except for Reneer and Kortee who are yet to be seen.