Monrovia – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Company (LDEA) has suspended its Chief of Operations, Main Abraham O. Payne (U-704), following the emergence of a controversial audio recording wherein he allegedly instructed the unconditional launch of his daughter, who was reportedly arrested in a ghetto for drug-related actions.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
The recording, which has since circulated extensively, reportedly captures heated exchanges between Maj. Payne and a junior LDEA agent. Within the audio, Payne is heard angrily ordering officers in Careysburg to launch his daughter, claiming she had been assaulted by officers.
“Don’t lower that cellphone off, go there now. If you happen to strive it, you’ll not put on that uniform. Your commander referred to as you; I referred to as you—then you definitely beat on my daughter? … Launch her to her sister, let her carry her house to me,” Payne allegedly demanded.
Maj. Payne reportedly dismissed accusations that his daughter was concerned in medicine, instructing officers to arrest solely the person allegedly caught with medicine. “The person who you arrested with the medicine, maintain him and launch my daughter,” he stated in a stern tone.
Nevertheless, an officer current throughout the raid provided a conflicting account, asserting that Payne’s daughter was present in a home with males allegedly concerned in drug actions and was “butt-naked” throughout the raid. “Chief, no one beat on her. She was in the home with these males, they have been reducing. The man that had the medicine fought the officers and escaped with our Mark Bravo. Somebody has to return and assure her,” the officer said within the audio.
The daughter herself reportedly intervened throughout the name, claiming she was assaulted by a girl current on the scene. “Sure, Daddy … they beat me with rattan. One lady beat me, I don’t know her identify,” she stated.
Following the audio’s emergence, LDEA Director Basic Hon. Anthony Ok. Souh introduced the quick suspension of Maj. Payne and referred him to the Board of Inside Inquiry and Skilled Requirements (BIIPS) for a full investigation.
“The LDEA frowns upon such alleged actions which, if confirmed, undermine the integrity of the Company and compromise the battle in opposition to illicit medicine. As such, Mr. Payne has been instantly suspended and referred to BIIPS for an intensive investigation. The result might be communicated to the general public in due time,” the company said.
“The LDEA reiterates its zero-tolerance coverage on unprofessional and unethical conduct and assures the general public that no officer, no matter place or rank, is exempt when caught in unprofessional conduct,” the assertion added.
This improvement follows latest remarks by Deputy Director Basic for Administration, Gwee Forkpa, who criticized the company’s present system for preventing drug trafficking, alleging complicity by some members of all three branches of presidency in drug distribution. Forkpa, who additionally served beneath former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, made the feedback throughout a press briefing on the Ministry of Info, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT).
