15/12/2025
Police Ethics Under Fire After Leaked Audio Links LNP Officer to Alleged R**e Case Compromise Talk
By :Nukanah Kollie
GBARNGA,BONG COUNTY—A leaked audio recording currently in the possession of Super B**gese Radio has sparked public outrage and renewed concerns about police conduct and accountability after a senior officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in B**g County was allegedly heard lobbying a r**e complainant to compromise with the family of an accused suspect.
The audio, which Super B**gese has obtained and reviewed, allegedly features Parjibo Reagan Neewray, an officer attached to the B**g County Detachment of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and a special assistant to County Police Commander Farsu V.Sheriff, speaking with a complainant and an undercover Liberian investigative journalist in a recent r**e case involving J. Christian Kargbo Jr., a student of the B**g County Technical College in Gbarnga.
In the recording, the officer is heard urging the complainant to consider a settlement with the accused’s family instead of pursuing the case through the justice system.
Alleged Lobbying for Compromise
In the leaked conversation, the officer repeatedly references discussions with the accused family and suggests that the matter could be resolved through negotiation. He is heard explaining that members of the accused’s family had already approached the Women and Children Protection Section (WACPS) of the LNP to seek a compromise but were told to first meet the complainant.
According to the audio, when efforts to directly reach the complainant reportedly failed, the officer decided to intervene personally. He is heard describing himself as the officer who initiated the arrest of the accused on Sunday, December 7, 2025, while simultaneously encouraging dialogue between both parties for what he described as a possible settlement.
The officer is also heard suggesting that the accused family was prepared to underwrite other initiatives and provide additional support following the survivor’s medical treatment—a statement that has further fueled public anger and concern among women’s rights advocates.
A Criminal Offense Under Liberian Law
Under Liberia’s Penal Law, r**e is classified as a serious criminal offense and is not subject to compromise or settlement between parties. Upon conviction, r**e of a child constitutes first-degree r**e, which the law state is “punishable by life imprisonment.” (Penal Law, Title 26, §14.70).
Legal experts say any attempt by law enforcement officers to encourage compromise in r**e cases undermines the rule of law, weakens public confidence in the justice system, and places undue pressure on survivors.
“This is a state crime. Once reported, it is no longer a private matter,” said a local legal practitioner who asked not to be named for security reasons. “Any police officer lobbying for settlement is acting outside the law and could be liable for disciplinary or criminal action.”
Survivor’s guardian Distress Captured on Audio
The leaked audio also captures what appears to be the emotional distress and confusion of the complainant. At several points, she expresses trauma, uncertainty, and fear, noting that the experience has deeply affected her mental and emotional well-being.
She is heard stating that she does not have the power or access to make such decisions and questions why she is being pressured to agree to arrangements she does not fully understand. Her voice, at times trembling, underscores the vulnerability of survivors when confronted with authority figures during sensitive investigations.
Public Reaction, Rights Groups Demand Immediate Suspension and Accountability
Since the audio began circulating, civil society organizations, women’s rights activists, and members of the public have condemned the alleged conduct and are calling for an independent investigation into the matter. Several rights groups have gone further, demanding the immediate suspension of Officer Neewray pending the outcome of a full and transparent investigation.
Advocates argue that such actions discourage survivors from reporting sexual violence and reinforce a culture of impunity, especially when those entrusted to enforce the law appear to be facilitating backdoor settlements.
“This is exactly why many survivors remain silent,” said a women’s rights campaigner in B**g County. “When police officers meant to protect them are instead negotiating on behalf of alleged perpetrators, justice becomes inaccessible.”
Police Response Awaited; Accused Remains in Detention
As of the time of publication, the Liberia National Police B**g County Detachment had not issued an official statement confirming or denying the authenticity of the audio. However, in the leaked recording, Officer Neewray is also heard confirming that he is a close neighbor of the accused, a disclosure that has raised further concerns about possible conflict of interest.
Police Officer’s Statement
Officer Parjibo Reagan Neewray, when contacted via telephone, told our investigator:
“I do not know the guy, but we live in the same community and the woman came on Sunday and said someone played with her daughter; so I should go and arrest. I made the arrest and brought him over to the Women and Children Section, that’s all. I do not know anything about the ra**ng business; I do not know how they go through the case. I am not part of the case; I made the arrest and gave it to them to go through their case.”
Meanwhile, J. Christian Kargbo Jr. is currently detained at the Gbarnga Central Prison, where he is awaiting trial at Criminal Court ‘E’.
The LNP has previously maintained a public stance of zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence and has repeatedly emphasized that r**e cases must be handled strictly in accordance with the law. According to reports, Officer Neewray was recently assigned to B**g County and has spent approximately three months at the post.
A Test for the Justice System
The controversy surrounding this leaked audio presents a critical test for Liberia’s justice and security institutions. Observers say how the authorities respond will signal whether the country is serious about protecting survivors, upholding the law, and holding law enforcement officers accountable for misconduct.
For now, the audio continues to circulate, raising difficult questions about police ethics, survivor protection, and the broader fight against sexual violence in Liberia.
Liberia National Police - LNP
IGP. Gregory O W Coleman
U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Liberia
DELTA-Human Rights Foundation Inc.
UNDP Liberia
UN Women Liberia
United Nations Human Rights
UN Women
