By Bill W. Cooper
The family of the late Albert Peters and Gifty Lamah as well the Inter Religious Council (IRC) yesterday, boycotted the post mortem examination on the remains of the two former Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) employees despite government’s invitation extended to them to be a part of the process.
The post mortem examination on the remains of the two former LRA employees occurred at the St. Moses Funeral Parlor in Gardnersville, by Dr. Benedict B. kolee and Dr. Zoebon B. Kpadeh, who are currently working for the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Hospital and the Ministry of Health (MoH) Welfare respectively.
Our reporter who was on the scene said that the LRA former revenue auditor, George B. Fanbutu family members went early to form part of the process but was later informed by one of the pathologists that they returned home on grounds that they were not performing the post mortem examination on their relatives’ remains.
He added that many were also left speechless when the pathologists started the autopsies on the remains of both Albert and Gifty in the absence of their families as were anticipating from the onset, though journalists from different media institutions including representatives from the Civil Society groupings and members of the Liberia National Police (LNP) were all present during the process.
Although the reason behind their decision to boycott the process is yet to be established, this paper has reliably learned that prior to the commencement of the autopsy, Albert and Gifty families said that they were not going to be part of the process on grounds that they do not trust the independence and credibility of the pathologists.
According to our source, both deceased families further alleged that the government is using the situation to paint them black in order to score political goals and as such, it was not necessary for them to be part of any process that they believed was already pre-calculated.
Our source added that both family members further stated that they will not accept any autopsy result concerning their relatives from the government of Liberia, while at the same time called on the International partners’ intervention in order for justice to be dispensed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Benedict B. kolee and Dr. Zoebon B. Kpadeh have called on the public to remain calm and have confidence in the process, while promising to carry on free, fair and transparent autopsies that will subsequently lead to the prosecution of the would-be perpetrator(s).
According to them, they are not working for government or in favor of the deceased or perpetrator(s) but stated that they are working in the interest of the country, indicating that the autopsies they are performing is on a pro-bono basis.
They added, “We are professionals and independent technicians and not politicians. We want to assure the public that we will do a full autopsy ranging from the head to the toes on the four bodies in order for us to gather the scientific evidence for the public to see and know the actual causes of their deaths.”
Dr. kolee and Dr. Kpadeh further disclosed that they will continue the post mortem examination on the remains of the IAA former boss, Emmanuel B. Nyeswua and the LRA former revenue auditor, George B. Fanbutu today, while stating that the results of the four deceased is expected to be compiled and submitted within 14 days.
Recently, two former employees of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) identified as Gifty Lama and Albert Peters were both found dead in a car up Broad Street in Monrovia, and within few days, another senior LRA staff reportedly died in an unexplained car crash on the Tubman Boulevard Road.
Following the mysterious deaths of the three former LRA employees, the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) boss, Emmanuel B. Nyeswa mysteriously died in his compound on the Tubman Boulevard Road which brought the total number of deaths of key government officials from the Weah-led Administration to four within less than two weeks.