The Ministry of Justice says it has taken note of circulating reports alleging that Peter Bon Jallah, Jr., who is accused of aggravated involuntary sodomy of a minor, has been released from lawful custody. The Ministry states that these reports are false and misleading.
Under Liberian law, aggravated involuntary sodomy of a minor constitutes a statutory rape offense and is classified as a non-bailable offense until final adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction. The law is clear and leaves no room for administrative discretion in such matters.
Furthermore, any release of a defendant lawfully in custody would require a formal order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. As of the date of this release, the Ministry of Justice says it has not received any court order authorizing the release of Jallah.
The ministry disclosed that Jallah remains in lawful detention at the Monrovia Central Prison pending the final determination of his case by the court.
The Ministry emphasized that it operates strictly within the bounds of the law, and will not compromise on matters involving the protection of minors or the prosecution of serious sexual offenses. “In the interest of transparency and public confidence, the Ministry is prepared to facilitate verification for any concerned authority, stakeholder, or accredited media representative who wishes to confirm that the accused remains in custody,” a Justice Ministry press release noted.
