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Liberia: House of Representatives passes bill making armed robbery non-bailable
May 7, 2008
Michael Kpayili
The House of Representatives has passed the bill making armed robbery, hijacking and terrorism a non-bailable offense in Liberia. The bill which was introduced one week ago before the Plenary came in a wake of a growing wave of armed robbery in Liberia.
The bill if concurred by the Liberian Senate and approved by the Liberian leader and finally passed into handbill will make convicted armed robbers to face lifetime imprisonment and a possibility of parole at the age of Ninety. According to the lead sponsor of the bill, Monsterrado County Representative Edward Forh, if the commission of armed robbery results to the death of a victim, the convicted armed robber will face a death penalty by hanging at designated public places.
The House of Representatives amended the law on armed robbery due to its weakness and relaxed penalties. The current law on armed robbery gives the Judge the exclusive discretionary power to grant a bail which many Liberians have stood against. Suspected armed robbers are granted bails on a regular basis by trail judges thereby making the act to grow at an alarming rate in Liberia.
Representative Edward Forh statement, “The amended laws making armed robbery a non-bailable offense will serve as deterrence to would-be criminals and reduce their devilish plan”.
Meanwhile, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has recommitted her Government continuous support to the law enforcement agencies in Liberia. The Liberian Leader has however commended the Ministry of Justice and its extended connection for redoubling their strategies in combating crimes in Liberia. She said relevant supports to boost the efficiency of the Police operation in Liberia will be regularly attended to.
The policy introduced by the Ministry of Justice to curb armed robbery in Liberia has yielded sufficient result as far as the abrupt drop in armed robbery is concern. The operation named and styled “Operation Thunderstorm” has redeveloped confidence and trust in the performance of the Liberia National Police.
“If Operation Thunderstorm will go on for a god period, then peace and security will definitely be achieved. Armed robbers have vanished in just a short period”, says Ernest Lonkpoe, a concerned citizen.
Ordinary Liberians have praised members of the House of Representatives for attaching urgency to the bill. They expressed the hope that the House of Senate will speed up the ratification of the bill to be sent to the Executive Mansion for Presidential approval. The survey was conducted in major quarters in Monrovia and its environs.
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