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ADNews-Monrovia,Liberia: Deputy Superintendent for Operations at the Monrovia Central Prison, Jackson K. Kolako, has linked his August 1 arrest to a calculated plan that could have triggered unrest at the prison and created an opportunity for a mass inmate escape.
Kolako, who spent six years working in intelligence and investigations within the Ministry of Justice before serving at the Monrovia Central Prison, said his arrest occurred while he was on active duty at the facility.
In a statement following his release from custody, Kolako questioned the circumstances surrounding his arrest and asked, “Where is the smallest piece of evidence?”
He said, the events leading to his arrest began when two individuals claiming to be National Security Agency (NSA) agents arrived at the prison approximately 30 minutes before the arrival of Mr. Siafa Bahn Kemokai.
According to Kolako, the two individuals were dressed in shorts, which he said are prohibited inside the prison, and allegedly failed to properly identify themselves or enter their names and purpose of visit in the prison’s visitor logbook.
He believed the individuals claimed their mission was covert and that they needed to interview an inmate connected to the ongoing multi-million-dollar drug investigation.
Kolako Questions Prison Security Breach
Kolako alleged that while prison authorities were attempting to establish the identities of the two visitors, two senior prison officials who were not assigned to the Monrovia Central Prison arrived and allegedly overrode established security procedures.
He quoted one of the officials as saying, “We make the law, and we can break the law.”
Kolako said that, as the ground commander responsible for operations at the prison, he asked whether the Chief Superintendent of the Monrovia Central Prison and the Assistant Minister for Corrections had been informed about the proposed visitation.
According to him, he was told that neither official had been informed and that the authorization for the visit was allegedly above the authority of the Department of Corrections.
Kolako said he subsequently contacted Deputy Superintendent for Administration, Superintendent Janet K. Siryee, and together they reached Chief Superintendent Colonel Roosevelt Varney and Assistant Minister for Corrections Gabriel Fayiah Ndupellar.
He said both officials expressed surprise and indicated that they had no prior knowledge of the visitation.
Inmate Returned to Housing Unit
Kolako further stated that when he noticed the inmate being sought was outside his housing unit for fresh air and exercise, he ordered the inmate to return to the housing unit.
He said the inmate complied without incident, after which he resumed his regular supervisory duties over approximately 1,800 inmates and nearly 100 officers on duty.
Kolako alleged that shortly afterward, he observed Mr. Siafa Bahn Kemokai and several Liberia National Police officers inside the prison.
According to Kolako, he approached Kemokai and offered the customary paramilitary courtesy but was instead ordered to be arrested.
He alleged that the manner in which the arrest was carried out appeared capable of provoking prison officers into resisting, potentially creating a confrontation that inmates could exploit.
“Without saying a word, I hurriedly left the area out of concern that my officers might witness my arrest, as not all of them would have immediately recognized the possible consequences,” Kolako stated.
He said his decision was based on his experience and concern that a confrontation could have resulted in a riot and potentially a mass prison break.
Held for Six Days
Following his arrest on August 1, Kolako said he was taken to the headquarters of the Liberia National Police, where he alleged that conflicting information was provided about his whereabouts.
He said his officers attempted to locate him but were denied access, except for senior officials of the Ministry of Justice.
Kolako claimed that he remained in custody from August 1 until August 7 without the LNP taking a statement from him.
He further alleged that on August 3, senior prison officers, two individuals he identified as NSA agents, and officers assigned to LNP Unit 105 compelled him to have his mobile phones brought to police headquarters and provide the passwords associated with the devices.
He said that during the same period, he was accused of being a member of a drug cartel and was questioned over alleged financial deposits purportedly received from drug-trafficking networks.
Kolako said he was subsequently instructed to go home and return the following day, but he refused, saying he wanted assurances concerning his safety before leaving police custody.
Kolako said he was released from LNP headquarters on Friday, August 7, after spending nearly a week in custody.
He alleged that his two mobile phones, which he said had remained in the possession of the NSA since August 3, were returned to him at the time of his release.
He said that around the same time, a senior prison officer presented him with a suspension letter accusing him of disrupting an ongoing interview involving an external security agency.
Kolako said he accepted the letter but informed the officer that he would acknowledge receipt after consulting with others and taking time to rest.
He questioned why the matter was handled through the police rather than the Ministry of Justice’s established disciplinary process.
“If I had committed such an offense, the Ministry of Justice has an established disciplinary board. Why, then, was I turned over to the Liberia National Police?” Kolako asked.
Defends His Record
Kolako also defended his professional record, saying he previously worked for nine years as a classroom teacher and three years as a conductor with the National Transit Authority before entering law enforcement.
He said he has now spent 12 years working at the Monrovia Central Prison without what he described as a blemish on his record.
Kolako said his career had been marked by sacrifice and that he had never allowed financial considerations to compromise his loyalty and integrity.
“As we proceed with this investigation, please keep the following names in mind,” he said, naming Siafa Bahn Kemokai, Lawrence G. Bohlen, Samuel Lance Jasper, and Raymond A. Messan.
Kolako did not publicly establish wrongdoing by the individuals he named, but said he was withholding additional sensitive information because of the ongoing investigation.
Appeals for Secure Holding Facility
In his appeal, Kolako called on Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh, NSA Director-General Prince C. Johnson, Defense Minister Geraldine Janet George Johnson, LNP Inspector General Gregory O. Coleman, Madam Sarah Beslow Nyanti, the United States Embassy near Monrovia, and others with access to President Joseph N. Boakai to convey his concerns to the President.
He urged that individuals detained at the Monrovia Central Prison in connection with the multi-million-dollar drug investigation be transferred to what he described as a more secure holding facility, preferably outside Liberia, while awaiting trial.
Kolako said such a measure would help prevent any attempt to undermine the government’s ongoing fight against illicit drugs.
He concluded by warning against any attempt to exploit security weaknesses at the prison.
“Attempting to aid and abet a prison break is a serious crime,” Kolako said. “No one will set us up for failure at the Monrovia Central Prison. We are far too experienced.”
The allegations contained in Kolako’s statement have not been independently established, and it was not immediately clear whether the authorities named in his statement had formally responded to his claims.
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