BY: Shallon S.Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY — Jurors at the Sexual Offenses Court of the 8th Judicial Circuit in Sanniquellie have found former magistrate Chester S. Paye guilty of statutory rape against a 12-year-old girl.
The jury’s majority “guilty verdict” was reached Wednesday, February 6, 2023
after reviewing arguments from both the prosecution and defense as well as making their determination in the deliberation room, which lasted for hours, declaring him guilty for the crime levied.
Chester S. Paye, 53, ex-magistrate of Zuolay Magisterial Court situated Tappita, Lower Nimba County was arrested and indicted in November 2023 in connection with the rapping of a 12-year-old girl in violation of section 14.70 of the statutory laws of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.
According to the indictment, retired magistrate Chester S. Paye allegedly had sexual intercourse with the 12-year-old victim on his farm, threatened not to give her food, if she left the farm or disclose his secret act.
The 12-year-old victim explained that when her aunt (Rita Dahn) left her in the care of Paye, he forced her to stay on the farm where he allegedly, sexually, and wickedly with criminal intention abused her.
The indictment revealed further that the victim had since been living with defendant and his wife Rita Dahn (victim’s aunt) in Zuolay Town, Tappita City since May 2023.
The verdict, delivered by a majority of the jury Wednesday before the court, returned guilty verdict against Chester S. Paye, 53, for rapping the 12-year-old manor.
Eleven of the jurors voted for a guilty verdict, and one abstained from the guilty verdict without indicating guilty or not guilty verdict on the jury’s verdict form returned.
Despite the defendant’s denial during his trial, the jurors came down with the guilty verdict after a careful review of the arguments from both the prosecution and defence lawyers.
“WE, the trial jurors to whom the case; Republic of Liberia, Plaintiff, versus Defendant Chester S. Paye; crime statutory rape was submitted and after careful consideration of the evidence adduced during the trial of said case, we do by majority agree that the defendant is guilty of the crime statutory rape as charged.”
The trial, which lasted for weeks, witnessed the Prosecuting Lawyer, Atty. Joseph Suah parading four witnesses, and three rebuttals, while Defendant’s Lawyer, Cllr. Allen F. Gweh produced three witnesses, including subpoena witness Dr. Daniel G. Urey the Chief Medical Officer of the Jackson F. For Memorial Hospital in Tappita City to testify.
But in response to the verdict, the defense counsel took exception to the jury’s verdict and announced an appeal to the Supreme Court in an effort to take advantage of the law.
Defendant’s Lawyer, Cllr. Allen F. Gweh has argued earlier the concealment of two instruments by the prosecution counsel, which he said were key evidence for the trial. He contended that the alleged conduct of the state prosecutor is a violation of rule 7 of the Code of Conduct of Moral and Professional Ethics of Law.
Meanwhile, the Sexual Offenses Division Court Resident Circuit Judge, Musa S. Sidibey has announced a sentencing within the coming days, when retired magistrate Chester S. Paye will be sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.
-Happy International Women’s Day-
