By: Shallon S. Gonlor |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — Ruggas Navin, a 46-year-old Nepali national and employee of ArcelorMittal, charged with the alleged commission of statutory rape against a 15-year-old girl, has been forwarded to the Sanniquellie Central Prison, pending trial.
The suspect, was transferred from the Gompa Magisterial Court to the Specialized Sexual Offenses Division Court at the 8th Judicial Circuit in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, on Tuesday. The alleged incident reportedly took place at Alvino Hotel in Ganta, Nimba County.
The preliminary investigation of the Liberia National Police Women and Children Protection Section established that the 15-year-old girl denied the suspect raping her, adding that they had been “loving”. She explained that they first met while she was selling in the market, where the suspect obtained her phone number and later began providing her with money and food, leading to multiple encounters.
She further alleged that on February 26, the suspect invited her out at night, when the alleged incident reportedly occurred, adding that she fell in love with him and the two had maintained a relationship since then. Under Liberian law, statutory rape is a sexual intercourse with a person under age regardless of the survivor/victim’s consent, if the perpetrator is 18 years of age or older.
The law holds that even if a child “agrees” or says yes, it is still legally considered rape. The crime is punishable with up to 10 years in prison for second-degree rape and life imprisonment for first-degree rape. The alleged survivor also said she had two ex-relationships prior to meeting the Nepali national. The rape allegation against Nepali was filed by the alleged survivor’s mother. This came after she began suspecting unusual behaviors from the alleged survivor, including constant sleeping out of their home.
At the same time, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, LDEA, has confirmed that the suspect was found with marijuana at the time of his arrest. The agency’s Nimba County detachment is now investigating to determine the quantity and street value of the substance.
