GOL Conducts Autopsy on the late Rebecca Tokpah, (Alleged Rape Victim) in Gbarnga
By: Matalay S. Kollie, Bong County Correspondent
Gbarnga-Bong County-January 19, 2023: The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health is currently conducting an autopsy on the remains of the late Rebecca Tokpah, an alleged rape victim in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The autopsy is being conducted by the Forensic department of the Ministry of Health of Liberia at the St. Moses Funeral parlous in Gbarnga, Bong County where the body of the deceased is currently being deposited.
It can be recalled on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at 13hrs the Grandfather of victim Rebecca Tokpah, Mr. Moses Tokpah through the Crime Services Department of the Liberia National Police in Totota Lower Bong County alleged that his granddaughter was found lying unconscious in Eshaka Bangura’ room.
He then accused Eshaka Bangura of being a boyfriend to his granddaughter, Rebecca Tokpah.
Following the incident, a police report obtained by WOMEN’s TV-Liberia indicates that a team of police officers from Totota Police Depot headed by inspector Mohafee N. Jabateh quickly rushed to the crime scene in the old Miamue Community in Totota and later discovered the Victim lying unconscious in Eshaka Bangura’s room.
The report further stated that a photograph of the victim was taken and she was immediately rushed to the Phebe Hospital along with suspect Bangura where Rebecca was pronounced dead by medical doctors on duty.
Police report furthered suspect Bangura who had signs of a life illness was later taken to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center for a checkup and was pronounced stable by doctors assigned to the hospital. The body of the late Rebecca was later deposited at the St. Moses Funeral Parlous in Gbsrnga, Bong County while suspect Bangura was being jailed awaiting further investigation.
During the conduct of the Autopsy, family members of the late Rebecca Tokpah and reporters including Civil Society Organizations representatives in the County were allowed to witness the autopsy being conducted by the Forensic Team.
Speaking to a team of reporters who covered the event after day one of the tests at the St. Moses Funeral Parlous, the Specialist Pathologist at the Ministry of Health in Liberia, Dr. Benedict Kolee indicated that the autopsy is intended to establish the cause of death of the late Rebecca Tokpah.
According to him, the government of Liberia has instructed them to examine the remains of the late Rebecca based on a request by family sources of the deceased over the demise of their daughter.
Dr. Kolee further urged family members of the diseased to remain calm and collaborate with the forensic team to fast-track the work and come up with findings from the test.
Dr. Kolee had meanwhile assured the public and reporters that findings from the examinations will be made available in the course of two to three weeks based on the gravity of the examinations
For their part, family sources of the late Rebecca Tokpah have promised to work with the team to fast-track the test.They said Liberia is a Country of law; as such, family members of the diseased have resolved to give chance to the Forensic team to do their job. They are at the same time calling on the team to do their job without fear or favor; adding that the gruesome death of their daughter is heartbreaking.
