Assigned Circuit Court Judge D. Onesimus Banwon handed down the sentences earlier this week after the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective crimes.
FISH TOWN, River Gee County – The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court in River Gee County has sentenced three men to prison for separate criminal offenses, but a major security concern has emerged following a jailbreak involving two of the convicted individuals.
By Francis G. Boayue
Assigned Circuit Court Judge D. Onesimus Banwon handed down the sentences earlier this week after the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective crimes.
Nelson Jolo was sentenced to 15 years for armed robbery after being convicted of robbing Madam Mercy Seabo in Fish Town in February 2025.
Two others, Peter Weah of Sarbo, Welekken, and Samuel Toe of Fish Town, were convicted under Sections 14.85 and 14.89 of Liberia’s New Drug Law for the unlicensed possession and sale of controlled drugs and substances. Weah received a 10-year sentence, while Toe was sentenced to 17 years.
However, just two days after sentencing, authorities confirmed that three inmates—two of whom were recently convicted—escaped from the Fish Town Central Prison on the night of Tuesday, May 27.
According to Judge Banwon, the escapees have been identified as Nelson Jolo (15 years for armed robbery), Samuel Toe (10 years for drug offenses), and Anthony Davis, also known as Taree, who was serving a one-year sentence.
Judge Banwon said a joint security operation has been launched to locate and apprehend the fugitives. He added that an internal investigation is also underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak and whether there were lapses in prison protocols.
No further details have been provided about how the inmates escaped or whether prison staff were involved.
