MONROVIA- LIBERIA, MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021: Authorities of the Ministry of Justice on 4 August 2021 exonerated LT. COL. Nyankun E. Williams from the allegation of rape levied against by Sgt. Obento Roberts following months of separate investigations both by the military and the police.
Liberia’s Army Chief of Staff Maj./ Gen. Prince Charles Johnson, III, announced at a press conference in Monrovia Tuesday, 10 August 2021, that the Ministry of Justice has transmitted the findings of the investigation into the rape allegation to the Ministry of National Defense.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, I seize this opportunity to inform you that the Ministry of Justice has exonerated LT. COL. Nyankun E. Williams from the allegation of rape levied against by Sgt. Obento Roberts,” Gen. Johnson said.
He noted that the report states, “That all the statements recorded from witnesses during the investigation lack corroboration to link suspect Nyankun E. Williams to the commission of the crime RAPE.”
From facts and circumstances established during the investigation, Gen. Johnson said WACPS recommended that suspect Williams be exonerated from the allegation of rape levied against him by Sgt. Roberts on grounds of lack of evidence to link him to the commission of the crime.
It can be recalled that on April 26, 2021, Sergeant Obento Roberts, personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia who is presently serving the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Mali, formally complaint Lieutenant Colonel Nyankun E. Williams to Headquarters Armed Forces of Liberia about having sexual intercourse with his 16 years old daughter.
Following the receipt of the complainant’s communication on the above-mentioned date, the Military Police Unit which is the investigative unit of the Armed Forces of Liberia was instructed to conduct an immediate investigation into the allegation level against Lieutenant Colonel Nyankun E. Williams. The findings of the investigation were turnover to the Minister of National Defense and later forwarded to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of National Defense has a MoU with the Ministry of Justice for handling such matters.
Following separate investigations by the military and police, Gen. Johnson explained that on 15 July 2021, the Women and Children Protection Section (WACPS) of the Liberia National Police (LNP) turned over its investigative report to the Ministry of Justice, exonerating the accused.
Gen. Johnson boasted that the AFL remains a “FORCE FOR GOOD,” upholding professionalism and discipline in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and the National Defense Act of 2008.
“We appreciate the support from all our counterparts, especially the Liberian National Police during the period of this investigation,” he said.
