Journalist Jarkloh’s Fiancée Breaks Silence

…Reacts To Charges Against Spouse
The family of Journalist Bill K. Jarkloh has reacted to series of media report that had insinuated guilt in the Rape/Sodomy charges that was brought against him early May, this year. The fiancée of Mr. Jarkloh, Korpo S. Kortimai told this paper that the charges were derived out of envy by the family of Star Radio reporter Sorbor George for the achievement and strides made by Mr. Jarkloh and his family.
Madam Kortimai said Mr. Jarkloh’s attention is also drawn to the conclusion of the initial report of the FrontPageAfrica online magazine which said that the journalist’s former wife left him because of the same rape, insinuating that it has raped for the second time. This is the Temple of Justice Building where Justice has eyes to see and favor people in Liberia
Korpo Kortimai who is the Assistant Coordinator for Women and Children’s Right at the ZODWOCA Inc., a local right and empowerment NGO operating in Monrovia and Lofa County dismissed the FrontPageAfrica report that it was Journalist Jarkloh’s second time involved in the raping of Minor. She said the Journalist has neither rape nor sodomize for any first or second time as alleged by the FrontPageAfrica.
Ms. Kortimai said it would appear that the FrontPageAfrica and other media institution which willfully chose to defame Mr. Jarkloh did that either out of lack of knowledge and hatred or perhaps did so for pecuniary gains.

Why Former Wife Left Bill?

She explained that the Journalist has in his possession ruling of the Civil Law Court presided over by Judge Yussuf Kaba in a divorce suit filed by Mrs. Munah Kreyoh Jarkloh in which the Court ruled that Mr. Jarkloh was not liable to all of the allegations made against him by his former wife, but added that the court was separating the corpus because the wife insisted on divorce.
Ms. Kortimai argued that if Bill was liable for rape for which the wife left him, how come Munah failed to prove Journalist Jarkloh’s liability. She added, “Bill told me that the former wife engaged in extra marital activities at her place of work thereby injuring their marriage, as a result of which she was ashamed and morally compelled to abandon her fine home.

Ms. Korpo S. Kortimai -
Journalists Jarkloh's fiancee explains her side of the story
On the latest accusation against Journalists Jarkloh, she said “Sorbor George and his conspirators including Janjay, the mother of the charge they had incriminated bill into raping, were fight not against the person of Bill Jarkloh but instead against his destiny which is very fair and bright.”

The Malicious Attempt

Ms. Kortimai, describing as “malicious and calculated attempt to impute blemish of rape/sodomy on my fiancé and to jail him innocently,” insisted on the innocence of her spouse. She said, “8-year-old Love Samuels was given to me by a lady who found her in the street corners so that I will help to restore her as I did to other kids through ZODWOCA in collaboration with the Women and Children Unit of the Liberian National Police and the Safe Home. The allegations are therefore malicious lies concocted to tarnish Bill’s reputation.

Journalist Bill K. Jarkloh: vendicated from rape charges as police investigative report named one Lincoln as the perpetrator of the rape act against little Love Samuels

“Having observed the deplorable condition of the minor, I readily joined Love to her Mother Janjay so that she would be given parent love and care, but Janjay said she could not accept Love Samuels because she was fond of running away from home, but instead, I should take Love to counsel her and make her good if I was able to do so,” Mr. Kortimai explained.
The fiancée of Journalist Jarkloh further explained that it was based upon this that she took little Love and study her for about two weeks after which she was interviewed by ZODWOCA Inc and forwarded to the Police Women and Children Unit, a Unit with started investigation of her state and well-being immediately and subsequently sent her to the “Safe Home” for rehabilitation.

Ms. Kortimai on her way to Spain (at the Roberts International Airport to attend a human rights seminar in Las Palmas.
“Like she told ZODWOCA, little Love told ZODWOCA interview that she was abused by one Lincoln in a Video Club in the Sonniwein Community during a deep of the night. She said she used to sleep in the video club and at that night the Lincoln fellow moved on her when people were asleep in the area.
“Beside, Bill could not have been the one who raped little Love because I have never left Bill and Love in our residence on Perry Street. Bill left home at 8:00AM every morning to work and returned 10:00 because he was also engaged in journalistic activities after his work at the Embassy of Ghana where he serves as Executive Office for Information,” Mr. Kortimai explained.
She further said that she was not leaving little Love at their residence when she too was going to work. “I always took little Love to my aunt’s place and get her from them before we can come home to our residence, and through out this time Bill who usually returned home at night always met every one of us watching movies in our living room,” Mr. Kortimai noted.
She said, “This is why it was unacceptable to Bill and me when Chief Justice Johnny Lewis instructed the City Court Associate Magistrate Moses Wondah M. Sondah to issue a Writ of Arrest on Bill Jarkloh for Rape/Sodomy. It was unacceptable especially because we feed that the attitude of Chief Justice Lewis was not reminiscent of a chief justice of an administration which has been preaching good governance and rule of law, for justice is squandered on the alter of hatred or revenge and injustice when a chief justice who is the final arbiter of justice comes low to make cases against people in the court of first instance without police charge sheet.”

Journalist Bill Jarkloh: On a working tour of duty in the interior of Liberia

Mr. Kortimai said, “Bill and I had noticed a driver of the Chief Justice at Sorbor George’s residence on Perry Street coming to enforce court precept that he George had issued. It was after we went to court to face George’s Criminal Coercion writ and bail ourselves when Chief Justice Lewis came down at the City Court, called Journalists Jarkloh and I into the Magistrate’s chamber where the most senior Supreme Court Justice openly accused Bill of rape/sodomy and instructed the magistrate to issue court without police investigative report and a charge sheet to back the findings and the arrest warrant by the Court.”
“I saw Chief Justice Lewis intimidating prosecutors Samuel Jacobs and Witness Doyen when the latter insisted that state lawyers will only prosecute the Love Samuels matter based on police charge sheet because it was his understanding that the police were investigating the matters,” Ms. Kortimai noted, adding, “the Chief Justice said the police are corrupt, Prosecutor Doyen must stay off the Love Samuels case, and he mandated City Solicitor Sam Theo Solomon to be the only one that he expects to prosecute Bill Jarkloh on the Rape/Sodomy charges.

One case, two arrest warrants

She also explained, “I and Bill had seen Love’s Mother Janjay at the George’s residence since little Love was sent to the Safe Home, and that it was after these strange visits of Janjay to the George family’s residence that she [Janjay] issued a Writ of Arrest against me without any police charge sheet on the same day my fiancé Bill Jarkloh was charged with Rape/Sodomy, alleging that I have kidnapped Love and sent her to unknown destination, at the time she earlier appealed to me at my to prevent police from arresting her on account of child abandonment.
“And so I was surprised. I could not understand why two different arrest warrants were issued by the court without police investigative report or charge sheet against the family of Journalist Bill Jarkloh for little Love, a kid who we were trying to save from further abandonment, street roaming and molestation caused by her mother Janjay.
Ms. Kortimai recalled how Associate Magistrate Sondah refused to approve a valid bail that was filed with his court for the “Kidnapping” allegation brought against her by enemies of Journalists Jarkloh’s family simply because the associate magistrate at the City Court took delight in detaining the Journalist and his spouse.
“Since Bill was detained at the Monrovia Central Prison along with me and I was later released then, Associate Magistrate Sondah many days avoided the case because conducting preliminary hearing would result to dismissing the charges and setting Mr. Jarkloh free, while Evelyna Quaqua at the Criminal Court “B” before whom the State said it has no evidence against Mr. Jarkloh had refused to rule on defense Motion of Admittance of Bill Jarkloh to bail but was instead trying to incriminate Mr. Jarkloh by erroneously saying Love had name Journalists Jarkloh as one who raped her.
“Her attempt also failed when little Love, convicted by Journalist Jarkloh’s innocence, burst in tears without heeding to the incrimination tactic employ by Judge Quaqua.” Mr. Kortimai, who expressed gratitude to God for failing the plotters against Journalists Jarkloh underscored the need for government to overhauled it judicial branch because she observed that that branch of government is corrupt that the Executive and the Legislature. “Government’s good governance policy will remain a failure unless the administration of justice is transparent,” Mr. Kortimai.

The New Rape Law Minus Non-bailable Clause Is Good

...Don't Allow Rape Be a Pull-down Instrument

Hi Rodney,

Firstly, I write the frontpageafrica.com/ to establishe the flaws of the new rape law and as well to state how dragonian it is. Let me mention that the new Rape Law is has become instrument for revenge against people. Several others who do not have the means to fight rape cases are languishing behind bars at the Monrovia central Prison without trial simply because one landlord or some adversary use rape to settle scores. dozens of them on rape charges do not have the opportunity to be heard because of the sentiment factor and the negligence on the part of the state to prosecute them. Some have over stayed from six months to two years.

Some of them, like it was in my case may be innocently accused. And all because rape is not bailable, the suffer innocently as they are dumped behind bars. This attitude defy justice and the rule of law, which is on the lips of this government; and unless people accused are tried expeditiously, the quest for justice will just amount to lipservice and a deceit that has the propensity to mislead the international community about good governance which cannot obtain in the absence of justice.

It is no doubt that rape is heinous and deserves harsh punishment. But it is now used to witch-haunt because the accused will be tied down in prison without the opportunity to fight back at his defense simply because he is not entitle to bail. Some people have no real relatives or family to fight for them. They fight for themselves when they are accused. being accused for a crime that is not bailable - like murder or treason - as in the case of this proliferated rape charges paralyzes his ability defend himself against his accusers.

I therefore conclude here that the new rape law must be reviewed so as to give it a new dimension that will prevent criminal-minded individuals from using the crime, rape, to ternish the reputation of innocent people simply they want them destroyed or because they want them perpetually imprison.

This was the situation with me recently when I was thrown into the Monrovia Central Prison on the Rape/Sodomy Charges orchestrated against me by those who want to see me destroyed or kept in jailed. But thank God that my innocence is being established, and God that knoweth and seeth all things will continue to plead my cause and vendicate me.

My dissatisfaction

But I must register my dislike of how FrontPageAfrica initially
treated me when Sorbor George who is petty about me for material things, things which I have acquired through hard work, masterminded allegations of Rape/Sodomy against me. the FPA went about placing my name on the internet when you Rodney was in Monrovia and could have contacted me at the Cetral Prison or my family through Josephus Moses Gray to get a better understanding of the situation.

In the first place, the little girl who is the victim at every forum testified not my name, but that of on Lincoln who she said abused her in a Video club. She even made this very testimony to the Chief Justice when the Police took her to court for the first time in front of a mammoth crowd. It was the girl's mother Janjan who was being used by Sorbor George and the Chief Justice to accused me. Even when she was being coerced to testify my name at the Criminal Court "B" by Judge Evelyna Quaqua, she was convicted by the Spirit of God through my innocence to tha bursted in tears and refusing to say a words.

Preliminary investigation at the City Court was consistently avoided for the three weeks I spent in jail by magistrate Moses Sondah M. Wondah because starting such hearing would have resulted to my release from detention even before the day they release me. All these travesty of justice was meted to me because the Rape/Sodomy Charges were pronounced against me by Chief Justice Johnny Lewis who ordered the magistrate to serve the arrest warrant against me.

For that same reason the Criminal Court "B" Judge who I thought could give me justice avoided handing down ruling requesting admittance to bail in favor of me for lack of evidence; the judge and the girl's instead was coercing the girl to call my name as her abuser, but God maintained my innocence and little Love Samuels bursted in tears and could not incriminate me.

It was against this background my lawyer revoked the Motion for defendant Jarkloh's Admittance to Bail for lack of evidence which State prosecutors did not also oppose, thereby remitting the case back to the City Court where the nolle prosequoi was filed in my favor thereby releasing me from further detention.

As we speak, the police have reported and it came to is my hearing that Police Investigation mentioned another persion other than Bill Jarkloh. By the grace of jehovah God who knoweth all things and says by the truth we shall be set free, I am convinced that this has laid the issue to rest against me.



Bill K. Jarkloh
Information Officer/Ghana Embassy
Panwhan.blogspot.com or billkjarkloh.wordpress.com
Call: 231-6-544-286-
Email: jloplehdee@gmail.com
Monrovia -Liberia

Court Acquits Journalist Jarkloh of Rape, Sodomy Charges
... Nolle Prosequoi Filed
06/10/08 - FPA Staff Report

Monrovia -

Prosecuting lawyers for the Liberian government in the Rape case - Bill Jarkloh Vs. Republic of Liberia - have entered a Plea Of “Nolle Prosequoi” thus clearing Journalist Bill Jarkloh all the charges of rape and sodomy brought against him recently by the family of a 8 years old child.

The Plea Of “Nolle Prosequoi” followed journalist Jarkloh pleaded for his temporary release from prison based on the lack of sufficient evidence to prosecute him.

Free for now: Journalist Bill Jarkloh

On May 13, Journalist Jarkloh was issued a writ of arrest by the Monrovia City Court for allegedly committing rape and sodomy as was claimed by mother of an eight-year old girl, Janjay who said the crime took place at Bill's Perry Street residence.

However, such plea allows prosecution the time to reserve the right to re-file the case should the need arise in keeping with section 18.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law. The Assistant County Attorney, Witness Doyen, last Friday filed a plea of “nolle prosequoi” without prejudice before the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice after the case had been scheduled for preliminary hearings on the same day.

A nolle prosequi may be entered either in a criminal or a civil case. In criminal cases, a nolle prosequi may be entered at any time before the finding of the grand jury, and generally after a true bill has been found. No nolle prosequi can also be entered after a bill has been found, without leave of the court, except in cases of assault and battery, fornication and bastardy, on agreement between the parties, or in prosecutions for keeping tippling houses.

A nolle prosequi may be entered as to one or several defendants. The effect of a nolle prosequi, when obtained, is to release the defendant without day, but it does not operate as an acquittal; for he may be afterwards reindicted, and even upon the same indictment, fresh process may be awarded.

Journalist Jarkloh had since expressed his innocence but family members of the survivor are still protesting that the minor did identify Bill as the doer of the crime. Hearings into the case had been experiencing hitches since it was first issued a notice of assignment which was scheduled by the court on May 27, 2008 due to what the defense lawyer cited as no police charge sheet’ to serve as the court’s document that should indict the accused.

Meanwhile, according to the law, a case wherein the proof is not evident and presumption is not grave, the suspect can be set free either on bail or the prosecution can nolle prosequoi the case, requesting time to gather all evidence thereby evoking section 18.1 of the criminal procedure law.

No conclusion yet, prosecutors say

But for the case of rape which is nonbaillable, prosecution says such plea gives them the right to request for time so as to inquire from the police regarding the report of the full scale investigation earlier conducted into Bill’s case. Police has already reported to state prosecutors with the name of Journalist Jarkloh mentioned nowhere in it. It instead linked one Lincoln who ploice quoted Love as saying raped her in a video club in the night.

Prosecution further said that the case has not yetreached its conclusion therefore they have advised the aggrieved party to appear today to continue the process of first establishing who the suspect is and to sort out other new evidence if possible.

The case was issued a notice of assignment over four times by the Monrovia City Court under the gavel of Associate Magistrate Wondah Sondah but because of the court’s failure to begin said hearings, the defense prayed that the case be transferred to an upper court that has similar jurisdiction over said matters.

The case was turned over to Court “B” under the gavel of Judge Evelyna Quaqua who also scheduled the case for last Friday at which time she was expected to give ruling since the prosecution had earlier informed the City Court that there was no sufficient court document to prosecute the case.

But to the dismay of both parties, the Court ‘B’ Judge could not appear at the time set to call the case while the parties waited in the court room. When reporters engaged her in her chambers, she told them that she had decided to reserve her ruling due to her personal judgment which is in the interest of both parties and that she was awaiting orders.

The defense lawyer, apparently, out of patience that his client would have spent another weekend in prison based on Judge Quaqua’s decision returned the case to the City Court where prosecution was granted the right to evoke section 18.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

Meanwhile, Jarkloh, since his release from prison has continued to profess his innocence of the charges.

Maintaining innocence

"The fact remains that “I am innocent, and I am being humiliated by a conspiracy masterminded and championed by Sorbor George”, a reporter of Star Radio in Monrovia. Mr. George and I lived in the same building but in separate apartments. Besides, he said, “the conspiracy against him is also being masterminded by officials of the court," Jarkloh told FrontPageAfrica Tuesday.

Jarkloh says that the Magistrate was instructed by someone at the helm of power, the Chief Justice of Liberia, to deny him and his fiancée Korpo S. Kortimai, a daughter of former deputy Commerce Minister Professor Lavela B. Kortimai bail because "he and enemies of progress want Korpo and I to be brought to the South Beach together disgraced for a good we did. But God says “the truth that is buried shall rise again,” Jarkloh added.

Jarkloh says the crux of the matter is that one Janjay, said to be a mother of eight-year-old “Tenesee” (Love) Samuels abandoned Love for more than one month and chased her out of their residence. "This minor was sleeping in street corners, video clubs and under market stalls. Love told Korpo, human right activist/personnel, how one Lincoln had abused her at a video club in the middle of the night."

Thereafter, he said, a lady rescued her and turned her over to Korpo as people in the community usually do when an abandoned or abused child was found. "Korpo Kortimai, as usual, took “Love” to Love’s “mother” Janjay but Janjay told Korpo that because she Janjay didn’t want Love to run from the house again, (Korpo) should keep the child and counsel her. But looking at the poor health situation, Korpo had reported this minor to the Women and Children Protection Unit of the LNP (Central). Love was processed at the police Headquarters and taken to a “Safe Home," Jarkloh says. But a week later, according to Jarkloh, Janjay started to grumble Korpo to see the “Safe Home”, apparently thinking that sending Love there is for pecuniary gain to Korpo and her household. And because there are already envious people in the community that Korpo and I live, they have now connived; saying that my charming spouse, Korpo, “kidnapped” Love while I raped and sodomized the little girl.

Jarkloh alleges that the police investigation regarding the abandonment and raping of Love was ignored for whatsoever interest to order the issuance of a writ of arrest against him for “SODOMY/RAPE” without a police charge sheet; at the same time, warning Attorney Doyen who is insisting on outcome of police investigation to keep off the matter. "Instead, Justice Johnnie Lewis said he preferred Attorney Sam T. Solomon to use Janjay and my enemies to incarcerate me at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) without the police report on the case and medical documents (report) to establish their claims against me."

Looking back on the ordeal, Jarkloh laments that a good deed turned into a personal tragedy. "My fiancée and I have been good to Love and her mother. Unfortunately, our kindness has turned into bad and we are being paid with false charges just to destroy our hard earned reputation and characters."

Journalist Jarkloh Charged With Rape, But Says He's Innocent


Journalist Bill Jarkloh has been held for allegedly raping and subsequently sodomizing an eight-year old girl, Love Samuels, but the journalists says he is innocent. The Fiancee of the journalists was aleso accused of kidnapping Love little Love Samuels, but police investigating exonerated both Journalists Jarkloh and his fiancee, human rights personnel Korpo S. Kortimai from the rape and kidnap charges.



Police instead said Love Samuels' parents have always abandoned her in the streets leaving her vulnerable, and added that it was Ms. Kortimai, the assistant coordinator of ZODWOCA Inc, a local women and children rights and empoweerment NGO, who reported Love to police and requested that the Child be rehabilitated.

Love also told Police investigators that she was abused by one Lincoln in a video club while under the cover of darkness,meaning that she was raped by Lincoln and not Journalist Bill Jarkloh as alleged by a one Janjay, sauid to be the mother of Love.

Mr. Jarkloh said the allegation by Janjay against him was masterminded by one Sorbor George working with the STAR Radio and was made manifest to bear on him by the Chief Justice of Liberia, His Honor Johnny Lewis. The Journaslist said he was misrepresented by Sorbor George to Chief Justice Lewis through the Chief Justice's driver who was seen in George's residence on the morning Journalist Jarkloh and his fiancee were arrested for the charges against them.

Accordingly, Chief Justice Lewis unethically came down from the top floor of the Temple of Justice Building which contains his office and the Supreme Court to the Monrovia City Court on the ground floor of the building and instructed the Magistrate, Moses Wondah M. Sondah and the City Solicitor Sam Theo Solomon to issue a writ of arrest against Journalist Jarkloh in the absence of a police charge sheet, saying that the police is corrupt.

The Chief Justice also called at the Magistrate's chamber, the Montserrado County Attorney Samuel Jacobs and Assistant County Attorney Witness Doyen not to interfere with the matter. "You see, I can walked into the offices of the Minister of Justrice unlike you. If you interfere with this matter against him, I will not like it," the Chief Justice warned the two prosecutors. he said it was his expectation that the Solicitor Sam T. Solomon single-handedly prosecute Journalist Jarkloh.

Journalist Jarkloh, a one-time winner of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Feature Writer Award, was then detained at the Monrovia Central Prison was for three weeks three-days until state prosecutors, through the intervention of the journalist's legal counsel, Human Rights Lawyer, Cllr. T. Dempster Browne, filed a nolle prosequoi thereby droping charges against the journalist for lack of evidence
He is presently a consultant at the Vision Newspaper and the Communication Officer at the Ghanaian Embassy in Monrovia.

..............

Liberia: Journalist Bill Jarkloh Speaks From Prison
The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Posted to the web 28 May 2008

Journalist Bill Jarkloh who was recently accused and charged with rape and sodomy has denied his involvement in the act and termed the allegation as false, with the intent to tarnish his good reputation he has built over the years.

The accused journalist, who was reacting from the prison on Tuesday, explained that he is innocent and that he was humiliated by a conspiracy masterminded and championed by another journalist, Sorbor George, who reports for Star Radio in Monrovia.

When contacted via phone on Tuesday, Mr. Sorbor George said he does not wish to dignify such an allegation, which he termed as "trash."

The accused journalist, in his communication, alleged that the conspiracy was also being conducted against him through the Chief Justice of Liberia and Magistrate Moses Wondah M. Sondah of the Monrovia City Court, in collaboration with Sam T. Solomon, City Solicitor at the City Court.

"I'm appealing to the Press Union of Liberia to kindly press for a speedy and fair trial. If I committed a crime, I should be fairly prosecuted and not to be kept in detention for a protracted period without justice being done. Let me have my days in court and face justice. I'm hungry for justice; I am demanding a speedy trial," Bill stated with frustration. Meanwhile, the accused who appeared for the first time in court yesterday has been granted a motion for preliminary hearings on Friday.

The lawyers of the accused request stemmed from information from the Monrovia City Court that there was no police charge sheet to have him indicted from the onset therefore the preliminary hearings will afford the accused the opportunity to explain in court whether he actually perpetrated the act or not.
…………..

Liberia: Ghanaian Embassy On Journalist Jarkloh Arrest
The Inquirer (Monrovia) 22 May 2008
Posted to the web 22 May 2008
By: Patrick K. Wrokpoh

The Ghanaian Embassy near Monrovia has for the first time spoken on the arrest and subsequent detention of its Public Relations Officer, Bill Jarkloh, who has been accused of rape.

The Ambassador of Ghana, Francis Adu- Amanfoh said the Embassy is not intervening in the matter and is allowing the laws of Liberia to take its course.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday when he was asked about the issue in Grand Cape Mount County, where he had traveled with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to participate in a three- day cabinet retreat, the Ghanaian Ambassador said it is the understanding of the Embassy that criminal investigation is being carried out in the matter and results of his understanding over the matter suggest that the allegation against the Embassy's Public Relations Officer is untrue.

"If the allegation is not true, I am expecting that the laws of the land should take its course," he said. He added that if the allegation is not true, the accused journalist should be given his right.

Asked whether in the wake of the latest accusation he can guarantee the accused job with the Embassy, Ambassador Amanfoh said: "As long as no court of law has found him guilty of any offense, he has a job. I do not have any problem with that at all."
Late last month, reports surfaced in Monrovia that journalist Bill Jarkloh, a one- time winner of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Feature Writer Award, was accused of raping and sodomizing an eight-year old girl on Perry Street, where he also resides. The journalist has since denied the claim.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Amanfoh has admonished Ghanaians living in Liberia to regularize at all times their immigration status by registering with the Liberian immigration authority.

He said things have changed over the years and it is now a matter of must that people from elsewhere who want to live in another country to respect and follow the immigration laws, something which he noted his Embassy has embarked upon a campaign to Ghanaians wanting to stay in Liberia.

Comm Teck: A New Dimension in Liberia’s Development Agenda

By Bill K. Jarkloh/ PIWA (ICT Fellow)



The growing competition of mobile communication – especially GSM companies in Liberia – has been benefiting the people of the country and makes the instancy of communication reliable. This was the case of a just ended treason trial in Monrovia, when the relatives of acquitted defendants took over the ground with mobile phones calling their distance relatives, family people and kinsmen from the interior of the country and from the diaspora.





The acquitted defendants, former Liberian General Charles Julu and retired Colonel Andrew Dorbor were accused last year of a plot to overthrow the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Government, but the case of which a previous verdict of a jury trial was set aside on a defense lawyers’ allegation of bribe solicitation against the Jurors had a none jury trial that ended Friday, 02 May 2008 with an acquittal.
Following pronouncement of the acquittal of the two former military brass, their family people, kinsmen and well-wishers started to jubilate, and their jubilation took the trend of mobile phone celebration. Shouting on their various phones, the families, friends and well-wishers were seeing in varying direction communicating to people afar minutes from the courtroom, relating the acquittal to people of distance.
Besides, journalists were using the cellphones to contact their respective radios, and television stations and newspaper officers to break the landmines acquittal of people accused. The scene was so much exciting that that area –front views of the Temple of Justice was turned to a mobile phone jubilation party.
“You see, the cell phone makes it easier now days,” a man who called himself Philip Jardea told this reporter when he was asked whether their families abroad will know about this acquittal the very day. The case was important so much on ground that it has been as far as history is concern that a Liberian government charges someone with treason and the person gets acquitted, except that such may be through an intervention of Executive Clemency.

…“Cellphones Have Made It Easier”-Says A User


Mr. Jardea said he was telling Grand Gedeans the news of the acquittal of their kinsmen that were released based on acquittal judgment by the court. In any case, GSM companies are competing covering the borders of the country. At president, Liberia has four GSM companies. The first was LoneStar Communications, the second was Libercell of the Atlantic Wireless (Liberia) Ltd, first in term of non-GSM prepaid mobile phones. The two were followed by CELLCOM Communications and then COMIUM Communication.
As we speak, all of these GSM phones which started beaming signals from Monrovia have covered nearly the 15 counties of Liberia, making instant communication possible between families and people in Liberia.
Before that time, communication was done through letters, and it could take months or years for one family man to hear from the other from either abroad or within the same Liberia.
As my colleague Mae Azango of FrontPageAfrica.com reports Bolahum, Lofa County, she discovered that the any environment or community is bound to be backward in absence of Mobile communication, in that people everywhere nowadays want access to communication in order to keep in touch with families, friends and loved ones. Mobile communication in most parts of rural Liberia is accessible due to GSM services provided by the four mobile communication companies - Lone Star, Cellcom, Liber Cell and Commuim.



Some elders in Massabolahun, a village in Kolahun district say their constituents have to go to specific elevated areas to catch a small signal only of Lone Star to communicate.
However it was discovered recently that in parts of Lofa County , northwestern Liberia , access to mobile communication is poor.
Kolahun which is the largest district in Lofa is backward in GSM communication. People wanting to communicate through mobile with their families and friends have to go to specific elevated areas to catch a small signal only of Lone Star to communicate. The rest of the GSM companies do not have signals in these areas. Hence the questions: What happens to one in times of emergency, when you have to take a dying person to the hospital with in thirty minutes? When will you walk to the spot to call and get help?




Massabolahun, a village in Kolahun district with 6,000 and 200 inhabitants and 450 houses suffers the problem. Mamadu Konneh, town Chief of Massabolahun told FPA that they are suffering in getting the signal of Lone Star GSM in their area. “We always have a lot of death cases that would not have occurred if we had efficient communication (mobile) service. The small signal we are getting is coming from Foya.” (Foya is another district). He expressed his thanks to Lone Star, saying “thank you Lone Star you are doing well, but you have to work harder because you have more Costumers in this part of Lofa.”
But Massabolahun is not the only community where people have to find elevated areas to communicate. A similar situation exists in Bolahun, Nevertheless Lone Star is as far as Manikorma, the bordering town with Sierra Leone and other bordering towns with Guinea and in the Sierra Leonean village of Baindu .
At the Lone Star GSM head office in Monrovia , FPA spoke with Mr. Theo Greene, an employee of its Customers Service. He told our reporter “we will discuss it with our technicians to see how best they work toward it.”
Before the coming of Lone Star, Liber Cell operated in Liberia as Atlantic Wireless, and dealt only with satellite phone services which most people could not afford at the time. In May 2001, Lone Star open and later brought her first GSM Erickson phone for $US 100.00 a piece, sold SIM card or chip at $US65 and the lowest recharge card at $US15.00.
However because of the intense competition, Lone Star was forced to bring down her price when Cellcom brought Motorola C-15 phones for US$49.00 a piece and sold sim or chip with units at US$5.00. Many consumers started buying phones and taking them to rural Liberia to sell at US$55.00 a piece.
This compelled Lone Star to bring a consignment of phones which sold for US$40.00 a piece. When Cellcom saw this, she brought in a consignment of Motorola C-13 for US$39.00, US$29.00, and US$15 a piece, depending on the season/time they were imported into the county. But at present, Cellcom still has her phone at US$29.00. Now, Lone Star has brought in a new consignment of phones, going for US$25.00 a piece.
The Interesting factor now is that people all over Liberia has begun to browse the internet through the use of Mobile Phones, and each company has tried to ensue that it avails internet GPRS in its services to the people.

Sequel to a Verdict: As Dorbor, Julu Celebrate Victory, Liberia Cries Foul

05/03/08 - Bill K. Jarkloh, FPA Staff Writer

Monrovia -

It was freedom at last for the treason defendants when the presiding judge of the Criminal Court ‘A’, His Honor, Peter W. Gbeneweleh, pronounced a not-guilty verdict and final ruling which electrified the jammed parked courtroom with applauses from the a suspicious crowd of relatives and well-wishers of the accused, while state prosecutors and apprehensive legal practitioners as well as curious journalists who stormed the courtroom to know the outcome of the legal proceedings of the treason trial of two former military officers were watchful of the scenario, the frontpageafrica.com/ reports from the Temple of Justice.




But not too long following the verdict, Justice Minister Philip A. Z. Banks condemned the ruling of Judge Gweneweleh and said it demonstrates his incompetence as judge, and vowed that the Government would gather more evidence to pursue the treason case against the two acquitted individuals, Julu and Dorbor.

Family members and well wishers of Dorbor and Julu celebrate the not guilty verdict last Friday in Monrovia.
Retired General Charles Julu and former Armed Forces of Liberia Colonel Andrew Dorbor were charged with treason for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Administration, but the jury de facto and judge of the second trial, His Honor, Gweneweleh, said the prosecution “miserably failed to produce” corroborative evidence that would prove the treason charges brought against the defendants as set forth in the indictment.

“Determination of the case,” the Judge notwithstanding said, “is whether or not the prosecution has established sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that may warrant conviction of the two defendants.” He made the statement shortly after the trial judge parading the courtroom with testimonies of the seven witnesses that the State Prosecutors – Montserrado County Attorney Samuel Jacobs and Counselor Joseph Constant –produced in court.

The final hearing of the case started about 2:00 pm (1400) hours universal time (GMT) at the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Hill. Before the trial got underway, hundreds of court audience trooped to the Temple of Justice ground as early as 10:AM to inquire of the time of the final judgment, and they were told by court bailiffs that the hearing was set for 2:PM Friday, May 2, 2008.

Getting Started at the Court

All the fainting expectations were awakened at 13:10hrs or 1:10 Liberia time when a convoy of a white mini-bus sandwiched by a Correctional office motorbike at its front and a Pakistani UNMIL jeep at its back scurried into the courtyard of the Temple of Justice at which time curious journalists scrambled for shots of the accused who were destined for their freedom or doom.




A rushing crowd of audience at the entrance of the court forced court bailiffs assisted by police to demand a queue and search before admission into the courtroom, and few minutes later at 13:59 (1:59PM Liberian time) the Judge and Jury de facto walked into the courtroom, took his throne with the usual rise of court audience in respect of honor due him.

The defendants were represented Cllr. T. Dempster of the Center for the Protection of Human Rights, Cllr. Thompson Jabbah – Center for the Protection of Human Rights, Attorneys Idris Sheriff, S. C. Lopel Kanneh and Saymah Serenus Cephus.

With the judge acknowledging representation, His Honor, Cllr. Gweneweleh, went on to summarize the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, saying the indictment of September 25, 2007 during the August Term of the Circuit Court has its second hearing as a result of controversial ‘guilty’ verdict derived from the first hearing by the empanelled jury presided over by Judge Charles K. Williams of the Criminal Court “A” during trial of the November 2007 Term of the court.

Having said establishment of sufficiency of evidence by prosecution is cardinal to determination to warrant conviction, Judge and Jury de facto Gweneweleh told the audience, “We should take recourse in to the indictment which says the two defendants on diverse occasions connived, conspired and planned to overthrow the legitimate government of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.”

Evidences that didn’t suggest treason

Judge Gweneweleh said the prosecution produced witnesses that members of the former Armed Forces of Liberia had series of meetings and that they collected from their midst L$50 each to underwrite charges for lawyers for their disbandment, but added that these meetings in the opinion of the court did not constitute any element of treason.

The trial judge and jury de facto further noted that prosecution also produced that Retired General Julu called a meeting of members of the disgruntled and disbanded Armed Forces of Liberia, which meeting was not held due to lack of quorum, but added, “This Court says the meeting by the defunct AFL did not constitute any element of treason.”



According to the judge and jury de facto, “ Due to the failure by the prosecution to disclose the nature of the meeting that was not held, it can not be held that it was intended to overthrow.”

He said in a strong worded statement in his ruling, “The prosecution failed during the trial to establish before this court what constitutes any element of treason that defendants attempted or committed’” saying, “Chapter 11.1 of the Penal Code “d' and “e” which the prosecution asked the court to take judicial notice of provides that any attempt of subversion, rebellion, insurrection and /or mutiny are some elements of treason which, of course the prosecution did not establish in their evidence before this court.”

Judge Gweneweleh narrated that prosecution alleged that Jacob Garan visited General Julu, introduced him to Col. Dorbor and Ephraim Gaye, but the judge went on to dismiss the testimony when he noted that there was no corroboration except that Jacob Garan hosted them [Dorbor and Gaye] in Ganta and gave them US$50, adding, “Prosecution did not establish whether the US$50 was intended for coup plot.”

“It is unthinkable, unbelievable and inhumanly impossible for Col. Dorbor to visit Col. Julu on February 1, 2007 and at the same time for this same Dorbor to be in Ivory Coast negotiating for arms. This creates a serious doubt in the minds of the court,” indicated the Judge who was pointing his finger at the audience – moving from side to side as his black gown flipped behind him

Judge Gweneweleh added, “The prosecution miserably failed to produce the father of Jr. Gaye [the brother of Ephraim Gaye both of whom testified in the case] to corroborate testimonies of Jr. Gaye that the accused had planned to overthrow on Inauguration Day.” Besides that, the Judge said prosecution also failed to produce before the court copies of the video recordings that

would validate claims that monitory equipment were set up when Dorbor visited Ivorian General Delaford, the alleged armed dealer to whom Julu reportedly sent co-defendant Dorbor to negotiate for arms, ammunition and 3000 pieces of military uniforms.

He ruled that the Criminal Court during the trial granted prosecution’s motion for deposition of the Ivorian General Delaford and the other general who reportedly arrested Col Dorbor in the Ivory Coast, General Papie Kasaraki. “These two prosecution witnesses were never seen from the Ivory Coast, the deposition was never produced. This failure to produce these material evidences/witnesses also created serious doubts in the minds of the court,” the Judge noted. He said the testimonies of the Ivory security personnel were to serve as material evidences to corroborate the prosecution’s allegations against the accused, but added that instead of the deposition or the witnesses, what was purported to be an “investigative report” was produced, adding that this purported investigated report stands to be credible only when a deposition is

taken, since in fact it was never cross-examined by the defense lawyers.

“Section 2.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law says where there is a reasonable doubt in a criminal trial,” the judge said, “it must operate in favor of the defendants.” Wherefore and in view of the fore going [both prosecution and defense lawyers stood to receive the final judgment but the

judge left saying he was going to urinate and pandemonium of suspicion nearly broke out in the court when he suddenly returned], it is the final judgment of the court that Retired General Charles Julu and Retired Col. Andrew Dorbor are ‘NOT GUILTY” – enthusiasms apparently from well-wishers, relatives and families overwhelmed the jammed parked courtroom momentarily rendering it uncontrollable with the judge and sheriff banging gavels to bring the court under control.

It was thereafter the judge, amidst snapping of cameras, instructed the Sheriff of the court to prepare the release of the accused “without a day going by and so ordered.” From there the celebration and jubilation took over the Temple of Justice Compound.

Final Arguments before the ruling

The arguments were the final legal confrontation between the prosecution and the defense, and two hours were allotted for each side by Judge Gbeneweleh

The State prosecutor, Montserrado County Attorney Samuel Jacobs said the prosecution has submitted sufficient and corroborated evidence before the court that should warrant the conviction of accused. Mr. Jacobs said the rule on the “sufficiency of evidence” and “corroboration” as provided for under the laws should be the guiding principle of the trial judge, saying that all of their witnesses’ testimonies pointed to the fact the defendants did plot to overthrow the government of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. According to him, the state has established a “prima faci case.” Attorney Jacobs maintained that the government has intelligence all within the sub region, noting that government’s intelligence had captured the accused when they were crafting their “diabolical” plan. “But let me tell you, you will never be able to over throw this government; our intelligence is strong all over the sub region,” he said.

Atty. Jacobs also said the Judge should take cognizant of “historical facts” of the conduct of the defendants, saying that retired General Julu and Col. Dorbor were not on trial base on their past treasonable activities.

Defense Final Arguments

Presenting its argument, the lead defense counsel, Cllr. T. Dempster Browne said the court should acquit Julu and Dorbor. Cllr. Brown said the state hasn’t proven its allegation against the accused.

The defense lawyers through Cllr. Browne pointed out that of the eight that were accused earlier and arrested only Julu and Dorbor were being prosecuted. “Your honor, no two can plan to unseat a government,” Cllr. Brown said.

The defense lawyer furthered that the testimonies of the prosecution are at variance regarding where and when Dorbor was arrested, and reminded the judge that where doubt exists in such a case it should operate in favor of the defendants.

Browne said one of prosecution’s witnesses said he was bribed US$1500 to lie on General Julu, noting that today Dorbor is being prosecuted because he equally refused to lie on General Julu. Besides, the defense said video tapes that were allegedly alluded to during hearings have never been produced in court, saying that if prosecution witnesses testified that they have video taped meetings of the plot, why didn’t they produced them in open court for public view, Cllr. Brown asked.

The lead defense who was assisted by Cllr. Morris Kaba in presentation of the defendants argument added that an investigative report from which prosecution said came from the Ivorian Government was notarized before it was prepared, questioning the possibility of how a document that was not formed would be notarized.

Background of the case

Julu and Dorbor were arrested along with others some time last years on allegation of plotting to subvert the government. At the time, it was said that Dorbor was sent to Ivory Coast to procure armed for their alleged subversive operation, but was nabbed by Ivory security forces who contacted the Liberian Government. Dorbor was flown to Liberia, investigated and prosecuted along with Julu who was reported to have been the mastermind of the plot. The first trial was nullified based on suspicion of bribery solicitation by the empanelled jury and a retrial ordered by the presiding judge at the time, Judge Charles Williams.

Autobiographical works of Panwhanpen

Curriculum Vitae

I: PERSONAL DATA

NAME : BILL K. JARKLOH

DATE OF BIRTH : 27 NOVEMBER 1964

PLACE OF BIRTH : PANWHAN TOWN, SANQUIN /SINOE COUNTY

MARITAL STATUS : DIVORCED

RELIGION : CHRISTAINITY (MORMONISN)

HOBBIES : READING, SWIMMING AND MOVIES


II: Educational Background

• CANDIDATE (GRADUATING SENIOR), BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MASS COMMUNICATION (EMPHASIS ON BROADCASTING WITH SOCIOLOGY MINOR) DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION AT UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA, CAPITOL HILL (2004 - UP-TO-DATE)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Reading courses in news gathering and new writing; interview techniques and reportorial responsibilities; elements of news and ethical responsibilities of a good journalist; opinions and editorial writing; photo journalism and map reading; effective public relations and public affairs reportage and responsibilities of a Public Relations and Public Affairs Officers; Mass Communication, its origin and basic communication theories; the social responsibility of journalists and developmental reportage; international relations in mass communication; basic tenet of Radio and Television Production; Media Law and Ethics; and a Thesis. These courses highlight theories and practical.


• CERTIFICATE OF MASS COMMUNICATION IN PRINT JOURNALISM (COMPRESSED REGULAR DEGREE COURSES FOR WORKING JOURNALISTS) DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA, CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – LIBERIA (1989-990)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Read courses in news gathering and new writing; interview techniques and reportorial responsibilities; elements of news and ethical responsibilities of a good journalist; Media Law and Ethics; opinions and editorial writing; photo journalism and map reading; effective public relations and public affairs reportage and responsibilities of a Public Relations and Public Affairs Officers; Mass Communication, its origin and basic communication theories; the social responsibility of journalists and developmental reportage amongst others. Note that thesis writing was not required under the Certificate Program of the Mass Communication Courts at the University. In stead of Thesis, one was assigned at another media for evaluation (internship) by that media house with report made to the Department of Mass Communication to qualify candidate for completion.

• HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA & CERTIFICATED/ TWE HIGH SCHOOL NEW KRUTOWN, BUSHROD ISLAND MONROVIA-LIBERIA (1984-86)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Read basic secondary school senior high school curriculum which include basics of Mathematics; English Grammar; English and African Literatures; Social Studies – History and Geography; Biology, Chemistry and Physics and Economics.

•JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
SINOE HIGH SCHOOL, GREENVILLE CITY
SINOE COUNTY, LIBERIA(1981-1983)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Read basic junior secondary school or junior high school curriculum which include basics of Mathematics; English Grammar; English and African Literatures; Social Studies – History and Geography; Biology, Chemistry and Physics and Economics.


III: OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

•2007 (Dec 13-15) : Benefited from a three-day regional
Workshop on ICT Issues under the auspices of Panos Institute West Africa (PIWA). The workshop discussed blogging, the citizen journalism versus professional journalism: advantages and disadvantages as well as the legal problems associating with weblogging and anonymity in the use of internet in information society especially within the regional context –using Senegal the host country of the workshop as a case study amongst others. At the end of the workshop, I developed and acquired the skill of setting up weblogs and development more interest in ICT issues.

•2000 : CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION/ AGRICULTURE
REPORTING WORKSHOP -Sponsored by Liberian Institute of Journalism (LIJ). Highlights include a month-long basic agricultural reportage relating journalistic rudiments to agricultural reportage; highlighted different of species of rice and cassava, animal husbandry and different kinds of farming. What to look for and what not to look for in covering agricultural stories from the fields as well as fishery.

•FEBRUARY 07-19, 1999: CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION/A
workshop highlighting the overview of judicial process in the U. S. and Liberia organized by the united states information service in collaboration with the press union of Liberia.

•APRIL 24-MAY 24, 1999: CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT/JUDICIAL TRAINING FOR LIBERIAN JOURNALISTS -Sponsored by USAID, center for democratic empowerment (CEDE) and carter center through the press union of Liberia; extensively discussed the criminal justice system, prison conditions, rights of detainees and convicts, the limitation of the police; structure of the Liberian judiciary compared with the system of the united states; the role of the supreme court; contempt charge - whether it can be challenged or not and reporting of crimes.

•July 1-2, 1999 : CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION
Media workshop on Judicial Coverage with emphasis on Criminal Contempt; administered by carter center & press union of Liberia at the auditorium of the University of Liberia.

•APRIL 29-MAY 1, 1997: CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION/MEDIA COVERAGE OF ELECTIONS; highlighted basic electoral laws, what is required of a journalist at pooling center; pre-electoral reportage and coverage of political parties’ activities. Sponsored by UNDP and Media-2000 Inc.

•4TH FEBRUARY 1994: CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT/A two weeks
Editors’ workshop that highlighted basic news philosophies in making sound news judgment; it discussed basic logics and news editing.

•1989: CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE (USIS LIBRARY
AUDITORIUM) Ashmun Street, Monrovia ( January-March, 1989 - three month refresher course administered under the sponsorship of the united states embassy information service (USIS) in collaboration with the press union of Liberia (PUL). workshop highlighted training in basic news gathering and new writing techniques; elements of writing lead of a story and headlining; basic interview techniques and reportorial duties; elements of news and ethical responsibilities of a good journalist; media law and ethics; opinions and editorial writing; photo journalism and map reading; effective public relations and public affairs reportage and responsibilities of a public relations and public affairs officers; mass communication, its origin and basic communication theories; the social responsibility of journalists and developmental reportage amongst others.

IV: WORK EXPERIENCE

•EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR INFORMATION
EMBASSY OF GHANA
(2005- TO DATE)

DUTIES: Prepared daily news summary of local dailies for briefing for the Ambassador; served as liaison between the Embassy and the Public; collect information from external sources for use and benefits of the Embassy where ambassadorial and diplomatic interests involved; go on errands for the Embassy; write diplomatic notes, signed and dispatch them based on authorization from the Head of Chancery; write press releases for the Embassy and prepared press conferences for Ambassador; published a quarterly newsletter for the Embassy and executed any other executive or public affairs assignment designated to implement. P

.CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
NEW VISION (LIBERIA) NEWSPAPER
(2007 - Present)
DUTIES: Performs regular editorial services including editing scripts of reporters, writing columns and opinions, managing the newsroom at free hours from Ghana Embassy Work.

.CORRESPONDENT
FrontPageAfrica.com (online US based) magazine
(2007-TODATE)
Duties: do photographic and news gathering for the frontpageafrica as the Monrovia correspondent. I do this at my free time while out of job from the Ghana Embassy. Conduct interviews, developed scripts and email them sometimes with photos to the editor@frontpageafrica.com

•COPY EDITOR
THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER
www.analystliberia.com
(2004-2005)
DUTIES: Strategize in collaboration with the News editor and the subeditor to improve news contents of the paper; Coordinate and supervise activities of reporters; strategize along with editorial Assigned reporters to beats; received stories from reporters and subeditor, edited them and forwarded them to Editor for selection or placement for publication; write opinions, including features, editorials and commentaries for the paper; negotiated and arranged interviews with executives of companies, newsmakers in public and diplomatic arenas, conducted the interviews and wrote scripts including news analyses; executed any other assigned editorial duties delegated to me by my bosses.

•FEATURE WRITER (EDITOR)
THE NEWS NEWSPAPER
(2000-2004)

DUTIES: Wrote opinions, such as features, editorials and commentaries for the newspaper; received and edited features and commentaries from outside for publication; helped to edit other materials as passed onto my desk by my superiors.

•ACTING NEWS EDITOR
THE NEWS NEWSPAPER
(2001-2004)

DUTIES: Restructured correspondents’ reports from various counties; rewrote press releases issued to The NEWS for publication; edited scripts (stories) from reporters and forward them to the Editor in Chief; coordinate activities in the newsroom – i.e. ensure logistics supplies, per diems, functional beats for reporter; assigned reporters to follow-up unfinished news businesses; held meetings with reporters to discuss direction of weekly news contents of the paper and lapses in previous week to device strategy of correction. These duties were executed in addition to the duties of the feature writer.

•JUDICIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE INQUIRER NEWSPAPER
(1997-2000)

DUTIES: Covered the criminal Justice System in Liberia – the courts, the police stations, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, NSA and NBI respectively; covered and reported the famous treason trial involving some 18 Krahns and Mandingoes accused by the Charles Taylor regime of plotting to overthrow the government (1997-199); did other investigative reporting on a case by case basis. Also assigned, in addition to covering the criminal justice system, to cover and report from the National Legislature. I later made political desk editor.

•ORGANIZING PARTNER AND FOUNDING NEWS EDITOR
THE POST NEWSPAPER (DEFUNCT -1996-1997)

DUTIES: Restructured correspondents’ reports; rewrote press releases issued to The NEWS for publication; edited scripts (stories) from reporters and forward them to the Editor in Chief; coordinate activities in the newsroom – i.e. ensure logistics supplies, per diems, functional beats for reporter; assigned reporters to follow-up unfinished news businesses; held meetings with reporters to discuss direction of weekly news contents of the paper and lapses in previous week to device strategy of correction in addition to helping to write opinions such as features, editorials and commentary. Besides, I attended Board Meetings to decide welfare of management. These duties were executed. I was later made Editor prior to my resignation for another job for personal reason.

•FREELANCE JOURNALIST
(1994-1996)

ENGAGEMENTS: I always strive to be the first on scenes of breaking news so that I will the opportunity to get full story and supply news institutions. Investigate issues and situations exclusively and supply news media institutions scripts of findings of investigations; Commented on critical national issues through guest editorials, commentaries and features. Attend press conferences and supplied absentee media institutions stories from those press conferences. Did other things that could enable me practice professional journalism as a self-employed journalists.

•SENIOR REPORTER
THE EYE NEWSPAPER (DEFUNCT)
1992-1994

DUTIES: Organized reporters for meeting with News Editor or Editorial Board; collected news story scripts from reporters and did first time editing; put forward grievances of reporters to management for redress; giving some roving assignments to cover press conferences, proxied for beat reporters to cover new-making events whenever they are attending other assignments; exercised other reportorial duties assigned to me by my bosses.

•SENIOR REPORTER
TORCHLIGHT NEWSPAPER & CRESCENT MAGAZINE(defunct)
(1990-1992)

DUTIES: Organized reporters for meeting with News Editor or Editorial Board; collected news story scripts from reporters and did first time editing; put forward grievances of reporters to management for redress; giving some roving assignments to cover press conferences, proxied for beat reporters to cover new-making events whenever they are attending other assignments; exercised other reportorial duties assigned to me by my bosses. Besides, I was sent frontline to cover engagements of belligerent forces under the protection of the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG); Cover the Capture of Tubmanburg in Bomi County and Poor River Bridge in Montserrado County by forces of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia (ULIMO) under the Commend of General Prince Seo from the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) of Major Charles Ghankay Taylor. Covered the battle for Caldwell between General Prince Johnson’s Independent National Patriotic Front (INPFL) and Charles Taylor’s NPFL co-name “Octopus,” at the end of which battle ECOMOG shielded Prince Johnson away to Nigeria and the INPFL was forced to dissolve.

•SENIOR REPORTER, THE LIBERIAN POST NEWSPAPER (defunct)
(1988-1990)

DUTIES: Besides assisting to edit scripts forwarded to editors for publication, I Organized reporters for meeting with News Editor or Editorial Board; collected news story scripts from reporters and did first time editing; put forward grievances of reporters to management for redress; giving some roving assignments to cover press conferences, proxied for beat reporters to cover new-making events whenever they are attending other assignments; exercised other reportorial duties assigned to me by my bosses.




•CUB-REPORTER TO SENIOR REPORTER, THE MIRROR NEWSPAPER(defunct)
(1985-1988)

DUTIES: As cub-reporter, I started rewriting press release, covering church and school programs. When I rose to the rank of reporter, I was assigned to cover the National Legislature from where I reported Legislative sessions and other programs. Latter, I was assigned at the Court and the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC) as my beats. I was therefore given the task making me responsible to cover activities at the courts, the police and the LEC. 1987, I was appointed senior reporter, responsible to coordinate reporters in the newsroom, receive scripts from them for editing by the news editor, sent on roving assignments such as breaking news events and/or press conferences where the beat reporter was not available. Ensure that the welfare of reporters was always sought by management – becoming obvious spokesman for the reporters.

V: OTHERS

2001 : Travel to the United States of America under sponsorship of State Department on the International Visitor’s Program; Did sight seeing of United States Infrastructures including cultural and historic buildings; attended training sessions conducted at intervals in Washington D. C.; New York, Florida and DeMoins in IOWA in investigative journalism and judicial reporting; explore the criminal justice systems of Liberia and the USA in a bid to know their commonalities and differences.

VI: TRAVELS
Travel to the United States, Paris, Brussels, Ivory Coast, and Senegal


____________________________________________________________________________________


The Journey of Life: My Perfect Example A Lesson(A brief Auto Biography By Bill K. Jarkloh)

A Liberian of the Kru tribe of that country, my journalism career has made me a very curious person whose curiosity has made me to know a lot of things by practical experience and skills practice and applied professionally. For instance, driving and moving earth equipment such as caterpillars, tractors and light vehicles was not something that I formally learned from people or institutions. What this should mean is to tell of the fact that education is not only in the classroom, but it is a process of know and gaining new ideas through human determination and applied skills. This was exactly how I went through life to reach to the medium height that I find myself today, as a career journalist and Information Officer of a foreign mission. However, it is a know fact that every journey through which life is acquired is not an easy one as one may see in my case.

Born unto the Union of Mr. Johnson Weah Jarkloh (a fisherman and sailor) and Madam Anna Jlopleh-Jarkloh (a farmer) on November 27, 1964, I started my academic sojourn at the Panwhan Public School and went through the doors of Sanquin Jr. High School and Sinoe High School where I completed my Junior High (Jr. Secondary) School education. The fourth of seven children – five boys and two girls now - scattered around Europe and Africa, this third boy of my illiterate parents was really born in a remote village [Panwhan Town], Sanquin Municipality which later becomes a district in the Southeast, Sinoe County to be précised. Upon the death of my dad in 1983, Bill left the Sinoe High School in Greenville City and went to Monrovia, the Capitol City of Liberia, to continue his education.

Meanwhile, He was a cameraman while going to school in Greenville, owing to the fact that he has no source of support as his poor parents were far away in the remotest part of the County – Sinoe. Greenville is the Capitol City. Consequently, Bill was working for one Jonah Tifueh, a brother of his friends Emmanuel Shine and the late William Butch, whose mother’s generosity caused him to live with the family eventually. It was at this time that Jonah asked Bill to take his camera around, promising him five Liberian dollars on every pack film used. It was a quick service camera which I carried around nightclubs, entertainment centers and school campuses to ensure that I make life possible and gain something with which I would pay my school fees and contributed to class activities. That I did - and it worked well - until 1983 when I found myself in Monrovia as a result the death of my dad.

My coming Monrovia was painful. I felt for my dear mother, whose companion was my dad. Amid adversities, my mom was busy on the farm while my dad was on the sea – all struggling to sustain the younger ones. But the death of my dad left my mom vulnerable as all of us who used to help her farm and fetch fish were all away from them, except for the last two brothers – Rudolph (now in Ghana) and Justine now in Monrovia. Besides, my dad sometimes could take to Greenville by Canoe, produces of the farming they did at home, sold them to complement efforts at schooling. So his death pierced my heart and I decided to return home to my mom to help her. By this time I have promoted to the 10th grade at the Sinoe High School.

But my mom wanted all her children educated. The genius who is the second of us the brothers and sisters, Joseph N. Jarkloh was already in Russian at the Odessa Polytechnic Institute pursuing a Masters of Science Degree in Radio and Electronic Engineering; Morris Karpeh Jarkloh, now a Methodist Cleric with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology (BTh.) was teaching a local Junior High School, Martha M. Jarkloh, the third of my parents children was in Monrovia pursuing a high school diploma (she now works with the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization) and I the next in line was now back home, joining Rudolph J. Jarkloh and Justin J. Jarkloh – all kids at the time – to be with our mom fro her help and comfort. Tina G. Jarkloh, who next to me, was already in Monrovia with our aunt, although she hadn’t started school. But our mom did not like her children to be unlettered like her and dad; she begged me to go Monrovia to her sister, Klaplah-dee to continue my school. When I was insisting to stay and help her farm, she said: “Your future is bright, I can see. You will be a blessing to us when you. Let me pour this my mother blessing: Your suffering is limited. Jobs will look for you and no enemy of yours shall succeed – for the God I serve says to me that your enemies are your footstool.” She then sipped the cup and poured the water on my back from her mouth. I then agree to take the challenge of life.

When I cam to Monrovia, Aunt Klaplah-dee said she could not afford to send me to school. “Not everyone in the family can know book. Some of your friends are at the Freeport throwing bags of rice to make life for their people,” se said in an apparent thought of making me a bread winner for Tina and I who were now under her roof along with her biological children and grand children. But I insisted on schooling. I went to the Duala Market in Monrovia –this market was within the proximity of my locality. I totted loads of marketers from cars to - selling tables for dims, nickels and at most quarters of a dollar. The aggregated collection was used towards my entrance at the D, Tweh High School in 1984, and I was able to matriculate at the school.

At D. Twe I started my journalism career as an amateur. Named News Editor for Voice of the Atlantic, the press club of the school, I served as the newscaster, representative the press club to the Student RECORDER Newspaper on which all schools of the time had representations. When General Thomas Quiwonkpa’s attempt to overthrow the Samuel Doe Government failed in 1985 when I was an eleven grad student, I was one of those called to active national journalism by the Ministry of Information. For me, that was the beginning of the blessing my mom told me of. The MIRROR Newspaper I was seconded by the Ministry trained me through workshops, local seminars and refreshers courses. I then took responsible assignments such as reporting the National Legislature, the Judiciary and other parastatals o0f government. From Cub Reporter I was elevated to reporter and then to senior reporter. From their after my completion of the D. Twe High school, I was sponsored to the Certificate course of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Liberia where I earned a Certificate in 1990.

Today, the need for education has become an indispensable factor of life. This has drawn me back to the University of Liberia for a Bachelor of Acts Degree in Mass Communication with emphasis on Broadcasting – doing my senior courses. But education is dynamic. It isn’t achieved only through classroom lessons, but through other interactions. So I worked with a number of Liberian newspapers. To name a few in recent postwar Liberia are: The INQUIRER, THE NEWS, THE ANALYST, THE NEW VISION and www.frontpageafrica.com/ online outlet that has arouse my interest in internet journalism. Interesting, while in active journalism, I am applying the Public Affairs skilled gained in school, at the Embassy of Ghana where I work as Executive Officer for Information. I was taught public affairs reporting and public relations at University of Liberia, and the opportunity at the Embassy is an avenue for practice of these skills. But I will never forget my mom, for her prophecy has come through. Everywhere I work, I was called to the job instead of seeking jobs. I am always contented with my work putting into it my best – so I always won awards at work places – either reporter of the year, best feature writer of the year and others.

Moreover, one thing that suited me in contemporary journalism is my involvement with internet journalism. This started with my online reportage with the U. S. based Liberian online agency, frontpageafrica.com/ the climax of this interest is my recent attendance of the Panos Institute West Africa initiated Regional Workshop on ICT issues. This workshop has introduced to me a new dynamism in journalism, and brought to sharp focus the participation of the ordinary citizens in shaping their destiny through the dissemination of information. The discussion at this added more to may achievements, especially having discussed the channels and ways they are used to ensure that the ordinary people participate and have a say in the governance process I for instance through the use of the cyber communication on internet and mobile phones. This has arouse my interest in the information communication technology of information societies, and they way these channels of communication help the people to participate in decision making processes that affect their well-being through person-to-person and person-to-institution contacts. I will appreciate if I should participate in more of these workshops, to explore new dynamism in area of concern so as to enhance my potentialities and my contribution to society and humanity.