As 19-year old man dies in Withholding Cells, Lofa County Police Detachment Provides Conflicting Accounts…

By: J. Mason Kollie

Lofa County, Voinjama City-January 07,2025-Tension is said to be brewing in Voinjama district as a 19 year old man identified as Yarkpawolo  Moisemai has allegedly died in temporary police withholding cells at the Voinjama Police station.

According to police investigation, the late Moisemai committed suicide in police cells using a coat that he was wearing on Monday January 6, 2025.

The late Moisemai was arrested by police plus four others on December 31, 2024 for their alleged involvement into the gruesome killing of a lady from Dogomai Town, Voinjama district who had gone on her farm on New Year eve and was later discover dead.

Police Provides Confronting Information on Death

In separate interviews on different radio stations in Voinjama on Tuesday morning, January 7, 2025, county police commander, ACP Bob Jackson said the suspect, Yarkpawolo Moisemai was transferred from the Police depot to the central police station on grounds that he was providing sensitive information that led to the death of a lady in Duogamai Town on December 31, 2024.

“We wanted  to protect him from his other colleagues in cells, that was why we transferred him to a separate cells but unfortunately, we got information that he became unconscious in the cells and we immediately took him to the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital, so we are waiting for the medical report” ACP Bob Jackson said in an interview.

Meanwhile, upon members of the press arrival at the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital on Monday evening at 9: 00pm, suspect Moisemai was pronounced dead as seen in the photos captured by our reporter.

At the same time, serious tension is brewing in Dougomai Town where the deceased hailed from as some citizens in their numbers, are said to be matching in protestation regarding the death of their relative and kinsman. They are also putting in place road blocks in Voinjama.

Police and civil society organizations in the county are calling on the towns and villages around Voinjama to remain peaceful and calm as the public wait on the police as well as county authorities delved into the matter and provide some answers.

 Investigation continues

Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita