Govt Announces US$5K Bounty for Credible Info -As Police IG Updates on Capitol Fire, Bloody Protest

MONROVIA – The government has announced that a US5,000 bounty is available for anyone who will provide credible information about the December 18, 2024 Capitol Building fire incident that left the Joint Chambers of the House of Representatives and other offices gutted.

According to Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah who made the statement during a special MICAT briefing on the Wednesday Capitol fire incident, the government of Liberia believes the bounty will encourage people to step forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.

“The government of Liberia is announcing a US5,000 for those with credible information as to what happened at the Capitol. We believe there are people who may have information, and this is a way to encourage you to assist.

“This is your country. If you know something and you stay away, maybe when it gets bigger than what it is, you are not going to be somewhere else. We are all going to be right here,” Minister Piah stated.

IG Coleman updates on Capitol Fire

For his part, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police Gregory Coleman, in providing an update on the Capitol fire incident said although the LNP has remained vigilant throughout the legislative crisis on Capitol Hill, especially given the high level of intelligence received, it was unfortunate that the fire incident occurred on Wednesday. IG Coleman however assured that an investigation into the incident has been launched in collaboration with the Liberia National Fire Service.

Making the disclosure Wednesday during a special MICAT briefing, the IG Coleman said, already the police have started inviting certain persons of interest about the Capitol fire.

Providing a backdrop to the fire incident, the police chief said: “Early this morning, we received a call from the Capitol that there was smoke coming out of the building chambers, and by the time we got to the scene it was a full blaze. We made contact for support to the Fire Service, LPRC, Water and Sewer, and others who came in with support to suppress the fire. Within four to five hours, we had it contained to a larger extent.”

Enlightening the media about efforts being made to establish the facts, Inspector General Coleman said there is an ongoing joint investigation that includes the Fire Service.

“Until we can have final information, we will be calling on technical expertise of other international partners to be able to examine what we will be looking at this time based on our limited capacity. We are also looking at other intelligence that we have been gathering.

“We are going to know in the next few days as to what exactly caused the fire; how it was able to spread as fast as it did. We are looking at other pieces of evidence, and we are also looking at the electronic evidence of people with expressive intent to commit this arson. As I speak to you, calls have been placed to four persons of interest to report to the Liberia National Police for investigation.

“When you say you are going to do something and immediately it manifests, you are a suspect. The constitution is very clear. There is absolutely no legislative privilege for the commission of a heinous crime. So, the Deputy Inspector General for Crime Services, Intelligence and Interpol has been instructed to place calls to individuals of interest in this investigation.

“This is the people’s building, this is the people’s assembly, and we must answer for it. So, I will encourage those who have received the call to come forward,” the police chief stated sternly.

Updates on “White Tuesday” Capitol Hill Clash

In providing a clear perspective on what transpired on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 when officers of the LNP and group of protesters clashed, Inspector General Coleman said it is indeed regrettable that the protest could degenerate into chaos mainly because some of the protestors decided to break the barriers established by the police and the rules of engagement.

“These are sad times for our country. The national security remains on full alert. We are here to reassure the public that we remain committed to the protection of our citizens, and we will do everything in our authority to ensure that the authorization that is given to us is maintained. We will continue to work together.

“Yesterday’s situation was quite unfortunate because we reiterate our commitment to protect our democracy and the rights of people. We are cognizant that people have their constitutional rights to gather, and it is enshrined in the constitution. We do not have any other alternative but to support and provide the needed protection. 

“Even when it was a lawful peaceful protest, we provided the needed protection. We marched with them and reached the University of Liberia and provided a designated protest zone. The reason for that is we don’t need to allow people in the Capitol to present their petition since we’ve had different intel of violence at the Capitol daily.

 “So, we decided that only the staffers and the lawmakers would be allowed to go there and carry out their function. We made it clear that for those who want to present their petition, there is a space on the other side that they could use. Fortunately, some groups adhered, and they went to the designated area. The other group decided to break the barrier. It became very violent, and they decided to stone the officers which led to escalation. Teargas was fired and there were arrests made.

“In that process, 72 persons were arrested, out of which 15 was forwarded to court yesterday, 10 was released because from the initial investigation, they did not establish their involvement, so they were released. We are still investigating the rest of them. Hopefully, they will be forwarded to court,” IG Coleman disclosed, noting that for those who have been charged thus far, the charges range from criminal mischief, physical obstruction of government function, aggravated assault, obstructing highways, disorderly conduct, among others.

8 Comments
  1. Jake Doe says

    Matthew Piah, cut that crap out. It is you bandits yourselves who have perpetrated that crime of arson to distract the people and the international community away from your badly damaged image of inter alia violating laws, violating the Constitution, killing protesters, looting, bribery, etc.

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