-For Statutory Rape in River Gee County
Fish Town, River Gee County – The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court in River Gee County has sentenced 48-year-old Joe Tweh to 25 years in prison for the crime of statutory rape. The verdict was handed down by His Honor Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, the presiding judge, following a unanimous guilty verdict by the trial jurors on February 28, 2025. Tweh will serve his sentence at the National Palace of Correction in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.
The case stemmed from an incident in November 2024, when Tweh was indicted by the Grand Jury of River Gee County for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in Jarpulville, Fish Town. According to the indictment, Tweh followed the victim as she went to fetch firewood in a nearby bush, where he sexually assaulted her. Shockingly, after the assault, Tweh approached the victim’s home, introduced himself as her boyfriend, and proposed marriage to her parents. This brazen act prompted the victim’s mother to alert community members and report the crime to the Liberia National Police, leading to Tweh’s arrest and subsequent trial.
During the trial, which lasted three weeks, the prosecution, led by River Gee County Attorney Atty. Fofie Kamara, presented four witnesses, including the victim. The defense team, headed by Public Defender Atty. Amos Nyenatoe, called Tweh as their sole witness. In his testimony, Tweh pleaded for forgiveness, claiming he was unaware that his actions violated the law.
Despite Tweh’s guilty plea during his arraignment on February 14, 2025, the court set aside his plea to allow the prosecution to present evidence supporting the indictment. Following the trial, a presentencing hearing was held, during which Tweh’s defense counsel urged the court to show mercy, citing his voluntary admission of guilt. However, Judge Wesseh emphasized the gravity of the crime and the need for justice.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Wesseh referenced Liberia’s legal framework, including Section 14.70(4)(b) of the New Rape Law, which mandates life imprisonment as the maximum sentence for first-degree rape. He also cited Section 50(10)(a) of the Act to Amend Title 26 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised (Penal Law), which allows for a definite term of imprisonment for first-degree felonies where life imprisonment is not explicitly specified.
Judge Wesseh noted that while the crime of statutory rape is a first-degree felony, the court exercised restraint in sentencing due to Tweh’s guilty plea and the absence of a full-blown trial. He acknowledged that harsher sentences, such as life imprisonment or 50 years, have been imposed in similar cases by the Supreme Court of Liberia, as seen in precedents like *Fallah v. Republic of Liberia* (2011), *Kollie Buway v. Republic of Liberia* (2023), and *Massaquoi v. Republic of Liberia* (2013). However, given the circumstances of this case, the court deemed a 25-year sentence appropriate.
The judge instructed the clerk of court to ensure Tweh’s transfer from Fish Town Central Prison to the National Palace of Correction in Zwedru, where he will serve his sentence. The ruling has been met with mixed reactions, with some community members applauding the court’s decision while others argue for stricter penalties in cases involving sexual violence against minors.
