லைபீரியாவிலும் பரவும் இமாம்களின் காமவெறி: கற்பழித்ததற்காக இமாம் கைது

லைபீரியாவிலும் பரவும் இமாம்களின் காமவெறி: கற்பழித்ததற்காக இமாம் மோமோ பார்லி கைது

Imam, Others On Rape Trial


Written by Peter N. Toby
Thursday, 05 May 2011 00:00



Imam Farley (Second from left) & others leave court for jail


In spite of the widely-held belief that ‘men of Allah’ are there to provide succor, and to convert individuals in the process of positively transforming society, the trial of Imam Momo Farley for alleged rape opening here today clearly stains this common belief.

Imam Momo Farley, head of a mosque in Clara Town, appeared Monday in Criminal Court ‘E’ for a pretrial conference, meant to set the stage for his trial.

He is indicted for raping a 14-year-old girl in Clara Town in 2009, and has been in detention since then.

His appearance in court was the first since he was indicted in 2010 for rape.

The pretrial conference was meant to warn state prosecutors and defense lawyers to get ready all pieces of evidence before the trial begins today.

Following the conference, Imam Momo Farley briefly told journalists that the alleged rape charge against him was “made up solely to embarrass me and damage my character. I am an Imam, and will nerve do that.”

But the exclusion of journalists from Criminal Court ‘E’, established to try only rape cases, makes its coverage difficult because those found violating its regulations risk being fined or jailed.

Meanwhile, defendants Joseph Garly and Morris Comoza, accused of raping girls aged 12 and 15 years, respectively, in Gardnerville, also attended pretrial conferences here Monday.

Defendants Garly and Comoza have been in detention since 2006 and 2009, respectively, before they were indicted with rape.

Court officers said no date has been set for their cases.