-As Court Sentence the Perpetrator to 25 Years
By Shallon S. Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia – Amos T. Gbawon, 52, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping a 1-year-11-month-old girl, following a verdict by the Sexual Offenses Division Court in Nimba County. The court’s ruling was issued on October 1, 2025, upholding a jury’s majority decision that found Gbawon guilty of statutory rape. Gbawon, a disabled man and Co-Chairperson of the Group of 77 in Nimba County, was accused of forcibly removing the victim’s clothes and sexually violating her with his penis, finger, and a foreign object on May 30, 2025, at the Nimba County Disabled Community Center where he resided.
After a trial beginning on September 16, 2025, a jury of 12 returned a guilty verdict by a margin of 10 to 2 on September 23. Judge Musa S. Sidibey affirmed the verdict, stating that the evidence proved the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and condemned the heinous crime. “A child is not a sexual partner. The violation of the victim’s innocence is horrendous and aggravating,” Judge Sidibey pronounced.
Despite Gbawon’s defense citing multiple hernia surgeries and medical advice against sexual activity—which a subpoenaed witness contradicted—the court found this insufficient to negate the overwhelming evidence against him. Gbawon had pleaded not guilty but was charged under section 14.70(1)(b) of Liberia’s Penal Law. The prosecution presented witness testimony and forensic evidence, including the victim’s medical examination which confirmed the assault. The victim’s mother, Konah Howard, raised an alarm after noticing her daughter with Gbawon, prompting a police investigation and the subsequent arrest of the accused.
Following the sentencing, Gbawon’s counsel announced plans to appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia, which was granted as a matter of law.
Gbawon will serve his 25-year sentence at Sanniquellie Central Prison, marking a significant step towards justice for one of Liberia’s youngest rape survivors.
Liberia’s Legal Protections and Support for Victims
Liberia’s Penal Law strictly criminalizes sexual offenses against minors, with harsh penalties designed to protect children from abuse. Section 14.70(1)(b) mandates severe punishment for statutory rape, reflecting the government’s commitment to safeguarding children’s rights.
In addition to legal measures, Liberia has progressively established support services for sexual assault survivors, including counseling, medical care, and legal assistance, often provided by government agencies and non-governmental organizations. These efforts aim to help victims and their families cope with trauma while seeking justice. Still, challenges remain in enforcing laws and ensuring access to justice, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and people with disabilities.
