We used a ladder to enter the fence

Suspects narrate theft at Ex-Chief Justice Scott’s residence. 

Montserado, Liberia, May 6, 2024—Suspects arrested at the Virginia residence of former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott have reportedly revealed to Liberia National Police investigators how they gained access to the compound, which should be under strict police protection.

Suspect Blessing Cooper, alias “August Jesus,” is quoted by the police as saying that in January 2024, he had gone to “his aunty Gloria Musu Scott’s compound to visit, but surprisingly, upon arrival, he noticed that all the gates were locked, while the dogs were on the flat top of the shop.

He said right near the gate of the shop, he found two keys lying near the flower pot, with the inscription “AB” on both keys. He claimed to have used the keys to open the gate and entered the premises.

For his part, suspect Abraham Jerbo is quoted by the police as saying that Blessing Cooper is his friend whom he used to see with plenty of money, and Blessing was the one who lured him (Jerbo) to Justice Scott’s compound to feed the starving dogs.

Jerbo explained that he saw two keys in Blessing’s hand, but they used a ladder to enter the compound upon the alleged advice of one CO-6.

According to Jerbo, they saw two other guys in the compound who claimed that they were sent by some relatives of Cllr. Scott to carry some items out of the compound for construction work on Brisbane Road in Brewerville City.

According to police investigators, Blessing and Jerbo admitted to committing the crime of theft by taking away from Justice Scott’s home three (3) cartoons of tiles, one five gallons of vegetable oil, assorted steel rods, ceiling tiles, and one television, some of which they sold to Defendant Caroline Williams and the rest of the items sold at Duala Market on Bishrod Island.

Amidst all of these unbelievable revelations and mind-blowing accounts, the police, with no contact with Justice Scott or any member of the family, for a proper assessment and/or inventory to determine the cost of items stolen and the extent of the damage done before charging the suspects.

As the circumstances of how the suspects got keys to the compound and the house remain unclear and the actual value of items stolen and damage unknown, the police have charged the suspects with Criminal Mischief, Burglary and Theft of Property.

The family of Justice Scott has expressed shock over police investigators’ decision to charge intruders arrested at Cllr. Scott’s residence who had no contact with or reference to the family.

The suspects were taken into police custody, supposedly investigated, and charged without any reference to the owner(s) of the property they are accused of breaking into.

To the family’s dismay, the investigators charged the suspects with burglary, among other crimes, and attached US$4000 as the supposed cost of either the items stolen or the extent of damage done to the property (house) without the involvement of the property owner or any member of the family.

The charge sheet, a copy of which is in the possession of this paper, does not mention any contact with the owner of the property or house the suspects intruded into, nor does it mention the name of the complainant the police interviewed to know what was stolen or the extent of damage done to the property.

The family described this as strange and worrisome. It could be a deliberate attempt to complicate the case and eventually let the suspects go free without any deeper investigation as to how they gained access to the house that should be under police protection as mandated by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court ‘A.’

The family’s spokesman, Mr. Nathaniel Toe, has continuously alarmed that the manner in which the matter is being handled appears to be a calculated plan to intentionally confuse the matter and lose the case so the suspects could be set free because a thorough and proper investigation that involves the family could unearth some interesting revelations as to how the suspects entered the premises, who they are, what they did, and the value of what was stolen and the extent of damage done.

On the Thursday, April 25th, 2024, edition of “Let’s Talk Liberia” on JOY FM 101.5, Mr. Toe wondered how the investigators arrived at or derived the $4000 mentioned in the charge sheet since they didn’t talk to the owner of the property, nor any member of the family.

Toe further wondered how the police and state lawyers intend to properly and successfully prosecute the suspects arrested in a private home if the owner of the home is not contacted to give inventory information as to what was stolen or the extent of damage done to said property.

He also drew attention to the fact that the suspects were arrested with keys, which they used to open the gates and doors to the property, a chilling reminder of the attacker of the late Charloe, who was heard aggressively demanding keys from her on the night of the murder.

The question of a possibility of intrusion into the former Chief Justice’s residence was a major factor during the trial, after investigators of the Liberia National Police ruled out any possibility that anybody could intrude into the house, a conclusion that defense lawyers resisted through evidence, including expert testimonies, insisting that there were many possibilities of intrusion and that the murder was committed by an intruder on the night of February 22, 2023. Editing by Jonathan Browne