The 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County has found Anthony Sumo guilty for human trafficking.
Anthony Sumo was sentenced to six years imprisonment on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 by the assigned Circuit Court Judge, Joe Barkon.
In February 2021, Sumo was arrested at the Salayea checkpoint in Bong County; while attempting to traffic 22 children from Gbarpolu County.
The prosecution of the now Sumo and co-defendant Madam Elizabeth McCree started in November 2021.
Due to medical reasons, Madam McCree was granted bill to travel for treatment.
As a result, Sumo was accorded a separate trial which produced witnesses from the state and defendant.
However, on Thursday December 9, 2021, Star Insurance Company produced the living body of Madam Elizabeth McCree before the court as it was mandated by it.
The court has set January 2022 for the tria of Madam McCree .
Commenting on the court’s ruling, the Chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce, Labour Minister. Cllr. Charles Gibson has welcomed the sentencing of Anthony Sumo for the act of human trafficking; describing it as a major achievement in the fight against human trafficking.
Minister Gibson said the taskforce is committed to winning all of the ongoing trafficking cases currently being heard in Monrovia, Gbarpolu and Grand Gedeh Counties and soon to start in Voinjama, Lofa County.
