By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
Grand Gedeh’s Konobo District lawmaker Morais Waylee, suspected of raping a 13-year old, and who was arrested on last Thursday afternoon, is before Magisterial Court at the Temple of Justice facing multiple criminal charges.
Waylee and his wife, Williet, walked in the courtroom Monday under the escort of the Emergency Response Unit of the Liberia National Police. They were seated on the prisoner’s bench and stayed there for one hour.
Prior to their arrival, Nimba County Representative Worlea Sawah Dunah and other colleagues of Mr. Waylee awaited his arrival at the Court. At 13 lawmakers had on Thursday last week pleaded with the National Police Commissioner Gregory Coleman to release Waylee. Colemamn rejected their plea on grounds that a crime was suspected and he could not allow the main suspect to go without appearing before the Court.
But more shockingly, the prosecution team from the Ministry of Justice failed to show up for the preliminary hearing of the case. The Judge of the Magisterial Court was furious and has held the Prosecuting lawyers of government in contempt, and they must show up give reasons, if any why they should not be held in contempt.
While on the prisoner’s bench, the Grand Gedeh lawmaker, Waylee, could not even lift his head. He bowed his head the entire awaiting the arrival of the prosecution that did not turn up. Waylee is facing four charges – Conspiracy, Tempering with Witnesses, Tempering with Criminal Investigation, and Kidnapping. Waylee remains innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in the court of competent jurisdiction.
When a local newspaper reported that he allegedly impregnated a 13-year old, Grand Gedeh Representative Morais Waylee denied he did. He claimed he did not know the rape victim. But tides are turning and he is now in court after the Liberia National Police arrested and charged the man who is allegedly fathering a four-month old baby girl born out of incest and rape.
Morais Waylee spent two nights in jail at the Liberia National Police. But he was not the only person the police wanted. They wanted his wife and they got her.
Waylee represents the Electoral District #2 of Grand Gedeh. Apparently his luck ran out Thursday, July 13th that as he proceeded to the Capitol Building for regular legislative session and daily work routine he was greeted with an arrest warrant and arresting police officers ready to take him away.
The police officers worked with the office of the Sergeant-At-Arms of the House of Representatives and presented Mr. Waylee his arrest warrant. Eyewitnesses at the Capitol said that Waylee was immediately arrested and taken to the police headquarters for questioning.
Meanwhile, the two parties are expected to appear in court on tomorrow, Wednesday, July 19.
Meanwhile, supporters of Waylee have begun threatening the journalist who has been keeping the story alive. Bettie Johnson-Mbayo has been persistent in the right clout of journalism to continue to follow through the story, since it was reported May 3rd.
READ FrontPageAfrica Editorial
The FrontPageAfrica newspaper in Monrovia reported, “FrontPageAfrica reporter, Bettie Johnson-Mbayo was abused and threatened by supporters of Representative Morais Waylee of Grand Gedeh County for her consistent reportage on the alleged rape and impregnating of a 13-year-old girl who lived with the lawmaker.”
