Published: January 14, 2026
PLEEBO, Maryland County — Allegations surrounding the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl in Pleebo-Sodoken District have sparked growing concern over the response of authorities to cases involving minors, as the victim’s family calls for renewed action and accountability.
The alleged incident reportedly occurred during the morning hours of Friday, January 2, 2026. The suspect, identified as Musa Fonana, is described as a relative of the management of the Exodus Entertainment Center in the district. According to the child’s mother, the girl had gone to fetch water and later returned home with blood on her clothing. After being questioned, the child reportedly disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted and threatened not to report the incident.
The family said they later contacted relatives of the alleged suspect but were told that because both the victim and the accused were minors, the matter could not proceed through the court system. The family disputes this explanation, noting that national laws provide specific protections for children and criminal penalties for sexual offenses involving minors. The case was subsequently reported to a medical facility for examination at the request of police. The medical report was submitted to the Liberia National Police (LNP) as part of preliminary investigations.
However, the family alleges that the case was later dropped without clear justification. Further concern has been raised by claims from the victim’s family that individuals connected to the suspect have cited political influence as a shield against prosecution. The family also alleged that the medical report was withheld, prompting an independent inquiry by team of journalists, which reportedly confirmed that the medical findings supported claims of sexual assault. In response to the allegations, the suspect’s stepmother, Decontee Sylla, acknowledged engaging community members to appeal to the family to withdraw the complaint from police.
The family has declined, insisting the matter be resolved through legal channels. Child rights advocates say the case highlights broader challenges in enforcing laws against sexual violence in rural and semi-urban communities, particularly where social pressure and alleged interference undermine investigations. The family continues to appeal to the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia National Police, and child protection agencies to ensure that the case is independently reviewed and handled in accordance with the law.
The suspect was forwarded to the Harper City Magisterial court on Monday January 12, 2026, for pretrial but later sent back to Pleebo on ground that the incident occurred in different jurisdiction and there is a jurisdictional boundary and Pleebo city court has the statutory right to do the pretrial of the case, the suspect is currently behind iron bar at the Harper Central prison as he await pretrial.
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