Liberia: Maryland Bailiff Acquitted in Gang-Rape Case

PLEEBO, Maryland County — Nearly four years after a Maryland County court bailiff was publicly accused of involvement in an alleged gang rape, official court records show that the case later ended with a Grand Jury Bill of Ignoramus, a court-ordered permanent release and a Certificate of Acquittal. By Peter P. Toe Jr., [emailprotected] The case involves Joseph Ponpon, who was serving as an assigned bailiff at the Gedetarbo Magisterial Court in Pleebo when he was arrested and charged in 2022. On November 5, 2022, media reports indicated that Ponpon and Alphonso Togba had been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged gang rape involving a 13-year-old girl in the Zone 8 community of Pleebo District. The report, citing a police charge sheet, said the two men were charged with gang rape under Section 14.73 of Liberias Penal Law. Ponpon denied the allegation. The police charge sheet also contained allegations concerning the circumstances of the reported incident and referenced a medical examination of the alleged victim. But the criminal case did not end with the police charge. Court records obtained by FrontPage Africa show that the matter subsequently proceeded to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Harper, Maryland County. The case was recorded as Republic of Liberia by and through the Ministry of Justice versus Joseph Ponpon and Alphonso Togba, with the charges listed as Statutory and Gang Rape. On March 20, 2023, the Grand Jury of Maryland County returned a Bill of Ignoramus in the matter. The Grand Jurys finding is recorded simply as “Bill of Ignoramus.” The document was signed by the Clerk of the Grand Jury and approved by the Forelady.The finding meant the Grand Jury did not return an indictment in the matter presented to it. Following the Grand Jurys action, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court issued an order on March 21, 2023. The court addressed several matters presented during the February Term of Court and specifically referenced the Bill of Ignoramus in the statutory and gang rape case. The court ordered the Clerk to issue a “permanent release” to the defendant based on the Bill of Ignoramus returned by the Grand Jury. The order effectively brought the criminal proceeding against the defendant to an end at that stage. Two days later, on March 23, 2023, the Clerk of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court issued a document formally titled “CERTIFICATE OF ACQUITTAL.” Certificate Says Defendants Were Acquitted The certificate identifies Joseph Ponpon and Alphonso Togba as the defendants in the case and states that they had been charged with “STATUTORY & GANG RAPE.” The document says the Grand Jurys “unanimous FINDINGS of ‘BILL OF IGNORAMUS’” were brought down in favor of the defendants and were “confirmed and affirmed by this Honorable Court.” The certificate further states that the defendants: “they are hereby acquitted and set free from the said crimes charged and shall enjoy their liberties as free citizens of the County and Republic aforesaid, henceforth.” The certificate was signed by the Clerk of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court and dated March 23, 2023. More than three years after the court proceedings, Ponpon says the legal outcome did not erase the effect the original allegation had on his reputation. Speaking to FrontPage Africa on Monday, October 5, 2026, Ponpon said he was given the Certificate of Acquittal following the court proceedings and released. “After the court proceedings, I was given this certificate of acquittal and released,” Ponpon said. He emphasized that the matter went beyond the police charge sheet. “The case did not just end with the police charge sheet,” he said. According to Ponpon, the allegation affected a reputation he had built over several years. “Something I didnt do affected my character I have built over years,” he said. Ponpon also said that he was not contacted by journalists to provide his side when the allegation was initially reported. “The journalists who did that story di