MONROVIA, Liberia – The Inspector General of Police, Col. Gregory O. W. Coleman, has disclosed that investigators of the Liberia National Police (LNP) have found no incriminating evidence against the suspended Deputy Minister for Youth Services at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, J. Bryant McGill, following a detailed forensic analysis of his mobile phone.
Addressing a press conference in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 14, Col. Coleman said the digital examination conducted by the police cybercrime unit revealed nothing linking the Deputy Minister to any criminal act, including the rape allegation leveled against.
“The analysis of the device showed no evidence linking Mr. McGill to any criminal activity,” the Police Chief stated. “We are proceeding with professionalism and transparency to ensure justice is served without bias or political interference.”
He said the next crucial phase of the ongoing investigation involves DNA testing, which has been delayed due to technical difficulties with laboratory equipment in the country. Col. Coleman revealed that the LNP has since sought international assistance to expedite the process.
“We have requested technical support from a foreign government to help with the DNA process and are awaiting their response,” he said, emphasizing that “the integrity of this investigation remains our utmost priority.”
Col. Coleman underscored that the LNP’s approach to the McGill case, as with all cases, will remain evidence-driven and transparent, and that both the accused and the complainant will be accorded full justice in accordance with Liberian law.
The suspended deputy minister, a former youth activist and senior official at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was accused of rape in August. His suspension followed a directive from the Executive Mansion pending the outcome of the police investigation — a move widely praised as a test of President Joseph N. Boakai’s commitment to accountability and the rule of law.
Six Arrested for Mob Justice
Meanwhile, the Police Inspector General also announced the arrest of six individuals linked to the mob assault of one Prince Yealue, a man accused by residents of being a motorcycle thief. According to police reports, Yealue was violently attacked before officers arrived to rescue him from the mob.
Col. Coleman described the act as “lawless and unacceptable,” warning that the LNP will not tolerate vigilante-style justice in any form.
“We strongly condemn acts of mob violence and jungle justice,” the Police IG said. “No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. Those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
He reaffirmed the police’s resolve to uphold human rights and due process nationwide, stressing that public trust in the justice system depends on respect for lawful procedures.
“Allegations are not convictions,” Col. Coleman reminded reporters. “Every citizen — whether a minister or a motorcyclist — deserves a fair and impartial process.”
Context: Upholding Law and Order
Mob violence and public distrust in the justice system remain serious challenges in Liberia, where slow court processes and limited access to legal remedies often drive communities to take matters into their own hands. The LNP, under Col. Coleman’s leadership, has vowed to reverse this trend through community policing, public education, and accountability within the force itself.
The police chief’s assurance of transparency in the McGill investigation, alongside swift action against mob perpetrators, reflects what many observers see as a broader effort by the Boakai administration to strengthen rule of law institutions and rebuild confidence in state justice mechanisms.
