Officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) have forwarded four individuals to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The suspected individuals are being separately charged shoplifting of gold dust, and a Samsung mobile phone. Investigators are yet to establish the value of the gold.
They are George M. Junvakpeh, Henry Sumo, Abraham Binda, and Michael Varney; all linked to two separate incidents reported in the county.
Junvakpeh and Sumo face allegations of larceny involving gold dust at a mining company in Panta District #4, while Binda and Varney are accused of a mobile phone theft from a woman in the Old Iron Gate Community, a suburb of Gbarnga.
In the case of the gold, Junvakpeh reportedly admitted to have processed the material, and received L$40,000 from the transaction.
Junvakpeh told investigators that he had already spent L$10,000 of the money.
Sumo, however, denied involvement in the any theft. He disputed the accusation against him.
The second case involves the theft of a Samsung mobile phone, which belongs to a woman (not named).
During questioning, Binda admitted seeing Varney flee with the phone, but denied having prior knowledge of any plan to steal it.
Varney disputed Binda’s account, claiming that the two had planned the theft together, “just to put me in trouble.”
The conflicting statements that form part of the circumstances surrounding the mobile phone prompted investigators to forward the suspects to court.
Meanwhile, the phone was retrieved and reportedly returned to its owner before Binda and Varney were sent to court.
Under the principle of the presumption of innocence, Junvakpeh, Sumo, Binda, and Varney remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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