The Liberia National Police have arrested Mike Jabateh, Assistant Minister for Urban Affairs at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, over threats he made against Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah. Jabateh was whisked off by the police early Tuesday morning at the entrance of Prime FM, a popular radio station in central Monrovia during the early hours of Tuesday, July 30.
In a leaked recording, a telephone conversation, that went viral last week, Jabateh threatened to kill Rep. Kolubah if he continued criticizing President Joseph Boakai. Though Jabateh has since apologized, the incident has prompted condemnation and intervention from law enforcement authorities.
Representative Kolubah, who played a significant role in President Boakai’s election victory, has since become a vocal critic of the President, accusing him of betraying the public’s trust.
Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman acknowledged Jabateh’s arrest and emphasized that everyone, regardless of their position, is subject to the law and must be treated equally.
Coleman told a Prime FM interview that Jabateh is being detained to answer inquiries regarding his threatening statements against the lawmaker.
Despite acting on his behalf, Rep. Kolubah, who is the co-chairman of the Committee on National Defense of the House of Representatives, has mocked the police over the arrest action — stating that he has lodged no formal complaint to trigger the arrest.
The opposition lawmaker wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday afternoon that he didn’t feel threatened, offended or afraid by Mike Jabateh, Assistant Minister for Urban Affairs at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Rep. Kolubah mockingly said he believed the Assistant Minister was mainly arrested for belittling Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman for calling him “Pekin” in front of his guests and others at Prime Radio. It wasn’t because of threats made against him (Kolubah) since he didn’t send any complaint or take such threats seriously against his life or person.
Rep. Kolubah teased: “I was reliably informed by one of the journalists that Minister [Mike] called the Police Director ‘Pekin’ before his guest, something that offended him, so he, the Inspector General of the LNP, immediately ordered that [Mike] be thrown at the back of the police pick up.
“I see this as a coverup, using my case to have [Mike] arrested for a sarcastic statement towards the IG, is a big bluff.”
Angrily, the Montserrado County lawmaker said he only complained to the LNP about a week ago concerning the vandalization of his property (District 10 BASE); where his people were arrested and kept in Police custody for over three days without forwarding them to Court.
“They did not do anything about that, now Joseph Boakai’s Police Director is making fun, talking about arresting Minister [Mike] Jabateh,” Rep. Kolubah stated.
He ranted further: “Let me make it very clear again, it was never because of me Assistant Minister [Mike] Jabateh was arrested. They are all Jokers!”
Source: Liberian Observer
