Criminal Court ‘E’ has fined a witness US$200 for refusal to testify against two defendants charged with gang raping his 14-year-old daughter on 17 March 2010.

Witness Amadu Bah, who is father of the alleged victim, adamantly refused in court to testify against gang rape suspects Aruna Kiazolu and Aruna Kromah, saying the duo are his brothers.

Criminal Court ‘E’ subsequently fined witness Bah US$200 and freed the defendants, held at the Monrovia central prison since 17 March 2010 before they were indicted on 17 September 2010.

Mr. Bah told Criminal Court ‘E’ that he could not testify against the defendants, suggesting that the ‘gang rape’ charge be dropped against the suspects.

“I refuse to testify on behalf of my daughter who was allegedly raped, but for God’s sake let the charge be dropped against them (defendants),” Bah told the court last Friday.

According to court records, the judge slapped Mr. Bah US$200 in fine and freed the defendants.

The indictment accused the duo of sexually abusing the 14-year-old girl after she emerged from urinating behind her house.

In a related development, Judge Quaqua last Thursday affirmed jurors’ unanimous not guilty verdict against Nigerian national Oscar Daniel, charged with rape.

She ordered Oscar Daniel released from further detention and all his rights be restored in keeping with law.

Jurors at Criminal Court ‘E’ handed down a unanimous not guilty verdict in favor of Oscar Daniel, citing that evidence adduced in court by state prosecutors against him were insufficient to convict the defendant for the crime.