BY BOIMA J.V.BOIMA
Photo on Flickr by United Nations Photo

A Nepalese police office with the United Nations Mission in Liberia was found dead in the vicinity of the Red Light Market in Paynesville with bullet wounds, last Thursday Sept. 24, 2009. Upon the arrival of the CEASEFIRE LIBERIA TEAM, the deceased was taken to a local hospital for autopsy.

According to eye witness reports coupled with a reliable source, the incident occurred hours after the deceased was allegedly linked to a sexual abuse believed to have been perpetrated on a Liberian child. A gunshot was heard from the market area, where he was earlier seen in the early hours of Sept. 24. The source also disclosed that the military uniform that the deceased wore was clean and that there was no sign that the deceased could have possibly tussled with anyone prior to his death.

Though it is not yet clear as to who killed the police officer or how he died, the reliable source hinted to this paper that the police allegedly shot himself to death and that the deceased was identified as Millan Karkie, 33. He was a member of the Nepalese Front Line Unit (FPU), serving in the UNMIL Contingents in the country.

Sources further told the CEASEFIRE LIBERIA TEAM that the incident occurred at about 1:00 a.m., minutes after the UNMIL officer was seen patrolling the vicinity of the Red Light Market, where according to them he had gone on surveillance as usual.

“At about 1 a.m, while sitting here, we saw the UNMIL man who parked his vehicle by the depot walking towards the back of the market. No sooner had he passed, than we heard a gunshot from the same direction,” the source said. The source said after the gunshot was heard they went to the scene and discovered that the officer was lying dead.

“When we reached the scene, we saw nothing but bullets and shells around the area where the Nepalese UNMIL officer was found lying in a pool of blood,” our source added.

When contacted on the issue, the Red-Light Police Depot Commander confirmed the incident and said the victim was personnel of UNMIL. He, however, refused to further comment on the matter and suggested that this reporter should contact the Central Police Station for more details.

When the CEASEFIRE LIBERIA TEAM contacted the Chief of Public Affairs of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Mr. George Bardue, he disclosed that the Homicide Unit of the LNP is currently investigating the matter and assured the CEASEFIRE LIBERIA TEAM that police will reach out to the public when its investigation is concluded.

This is the second time in recent months that officials attached to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia has committed suicide, allegedly in connection to sexual abuse. The last was an American national who was also accused of sexually exploiting and abusing Liberian girls and videotaping the acts.