SAMUELWORGEE, a dedicated civil servant, uncovered a nefarious plot involving the misappropriation of a substantial amount of public funds within his department. This discovery, however, led him down a treacherous path. He made the conscious and courageous choice to confront the senior staff members directly, a decision that would trigger a series of vicious and unjust events. He soon realized that these individuals were not just corrupt officials; they were also key members of a powerful and clandestine secret society. Their response to his confrontation was swift and menacing. He was met with overt threats from agents of this notorious group, who made it clear that they expected him to conform to their corrupt system and allow “business as usual.” However, Samuel refused to be intimidated. His integrity would not allow him to stand by while the public’s money was stolen.
In a shocking and brazen act of retaliation, the conspirators moved against him. They fraudulently affixed his signature to a forged document concerning the missing funds, crafting a meticulously fabricated piece of evidence. Using this false pretense, they filed a report with the police, accusing him of “economic sabotage.” As a result, John was arrested, questioned, and ultimately released on June 12th. Yet, as his sister, Helen, recounted to IPNEWS in tears, their campaign of intimidation was far from over. “They tried to break his spirit and silence him,” she sobbed, “but he wouldn’t give in.”
A subsequent IPNEWS investigation revealed the chilling escalation of their campaign. On June 19th, at 4:15 AM, state security forces, acting on the fabricated charges, violently raided and vandalized Samuel Worgee’s home . They arrested him without a just cause, throwing him into a high-level criminal ward. He was formally indicted for “economic sabotage,” a charge that, in Liberia, carries severe consequences. “This was a flagrant violation against my brother’s rights,” Helen lamented, “a blatant attempt to punish him without any form of a just investigation or legal proceeding. They simply wanted him gone.”
It was at this critical juncture that Samuel, Atty. Benjamin B. Stewart, Sr., a renowned human rights lawyer, intervened on Samuel’s behalf. He worked tirelessly to secure Samuel’s release, but the message he delivered was grim and unequivocal: Samuel’s life was no longer safe in Liberia. Atty. Stewart recounted the tragic fate of another client from the same institution, a whistleblower who had dared to speak out against the secret society and was now dead. This chilling anecdote served as a stark warning of the lethal lengths the society would go to silence dissent. In Liberia, particularly within the bustling city of Monrovia, clandestine gangs and secret societies are known to operate with impunity, using violence to maintain their control. There have been documented cases where individuals who stood against powerful figures were found dead, their deaths often ruled as “accidents” or “unexplained.” These groups, often operating under the guise of legitimate organizations, use fear and violence as their primary tools. For instance, stories have emerged of journalists and activists who were murdered in cold blood after reporting on corruption, their bodies discovered in remote locations, bearing signs of torture. These brutal killings serve as a clear message to anyone who considers challenging the established order.
Anoteher witness narrates: “My name is Tresa Hannah, and I live in the Chocolate City community in Gardnerville, Monrovia. I’ve known the Worgee’s family for many years; they’re honest, good people.
The morning of June 19, 2015, is a morning I’ll never forget. It was just after 4:00 AM, and I was up early, getting my children ready for school at St. Michael the Catholic School. The quiet morning was suddenly shattered by the sound of sirens and loud, aggressive banging on doors.
I looked out my window and saw about six armed men. They appeared to be state security forces. They surrounded the Samuel family’s house, yelling aggressively in the quiet morning air. I heard the sound of the front door being broken down as they forced their way inside.
It was pure chaos. Moments later, they dragged Samuel Worgee outside. He was only in his sleep clothes. I didn’t see a warrant; they just seized him and pulled him toward a pickup truck. It was a terrifying sight. The whole community was awake, watching from their windows, but nobody dared to intervene.
They put him in the truck and sped away, leaving the house completely vandalized. I have never seen such a brutal and unjust act carried out in the early hours of the morning.
With Samuel under imminent threat, Atty. Stewart arranged for his escape. On July 8th, Samuel slipped out of the country via Royal Air Maroc, leaving behind everything he had ever known. Born on July 6, 1980, in Monrovia, Samuel had dedicated his life to serving his country. After earning both an associate and a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory technology, he worked for the Ministry of Health (MOH) from 2005 to 2013, tirelessly contributing to the well-being of his fellow citizens.
Atty. Stewart told IPNEWS that Samuel is now in a safe location, seeking protection and asylum in the United States, a world away from the shadows that haunted him in Liberia. He is still struggling to recover from the profound psychological and emotional trauma inflicted by the ordeal, a living testament to the dangers of speaking truth to power.
