By Jacqueline L. Dennis
MONROVIA — Criminal Court “B” at the Temple of Justice has sentenced Sam Wolobah, Administrator of the Lofa Medical Clinic, to life imprisonment for the murder of patient Samuel P. Kollie, who died following an unauthorized surgical procedure.
Presiding Judge Wesseh A. Wesseh upheld the unanimous guilty verdict returned by the trial jury, affirming that Wolobah was responsible for the death of Kollie, which occurred under questionable medical circumstances. The judge described the act as deliberate and reckless, with evidence pointing to malice thought and premeditation.
Judge Wesseh, declared that the guilty verdict of the trial jurors is hereby upheld, affirmed, and confirmed. The defendant is adjudged guilty of murder and is sentenced to life imprisonment
According to court records, on March 18, 2025, the deceased, Samuel Kollie, was taken to the Lofa Medical Clinic located in New Georgia Junction after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Wolobah, who is not a licensed or certified medical doctor, diagnosed the patient with appendicitis and hepatitis B, and demanded USD $225 to perform an “emergency surgery.
The prosecution alleged that Wolobah conducted the surgical operation without proper qualifications, which resulted in the patient’s death the following day. A subsequent autopsy revealed signs of poor surgical handling and trauma.
Conflicting Testimonies
Wolobah, during his testimony, claimed that the patient had recovered well after surgery and blamed the death on the family, alleging that they had fed the patient too early against medical advice. He testified that the food, which he said was not verified by his nurses, may have triggered heart failure
However, prosecution witnesses, including Dr. Aaron Kokoro and Moses Kollie, brother of the deceased, strongly contradicted this account.
Dr. Kokoro, a licensed medical practitioner, testified that eating within 24 hours post-surgery does not typically result in death, undermining Wolobah’s defense. Additionally, Moses Kollie stated under oath that the family only fed the patient with “ Oats” after receiving explicit approval from Wolobah himself, who allegedly even supervised the preparation.
Prosecution’s Argument
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) confirmed that Sam Wolobah is not a registered medical doctor, nor is his facility licensed to perform surgeries. The LMDC registrar, Dr. Augustus Quiah, testified that Wolobah had no legal authority to conduct invasive medical procedures.
Prosecutors presented medical evidence, witness testimonies, and legal precedents to support their claim that the operation constituted intentional harm, exacerbated by the defendant’s deliberate choice not to refer the patient to a certified facility.
“The defendant operated a killing chamber under the guise of a medical clinic,” the court said in its final ruling. “He took lives while pursuing personal financial gain, without regard for human life or medical ethics.”
Legal Grounds for Conviction
Judge Wesseh cited several Supreme Court rulings to support the conviction, including Mac Deshield v. Republic (1973) and Taylor v. RL (1961), emphasizing that malice and intent can be inferred from deliberate acts especially when committed by someone who knows they lack the training or authority to do so.
“Malice aforethought, an element of murder, may be inferred from a deliberate act. Intent to kill is presumed when a person knowingly places another at fatal risk,” the judge said.
The court further cited Kpolleh v. Republic (1990), noting that the prosecution had presented evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, meeting the burden required for a conviction in criminal cases.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Following the court’s decision, the Clerk of Court was ordered to immediately send a mandate to the Monrovia Central Prison to begin execution of the sentence.
Wolobah was initially charged with manslaughter by the Liberia National Police, but was later indicted for murder by the Grand Jury for Montserrado County. The ruling has sparked public outrage over the existence of unlicensed clinics and has renewed calls for stricter enforcement by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council and the Ministry of Health.
