Security Official Peter Bon Jallah Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Rape

Peter Bon Jallah, a 63-year-old former Special Assistant to the National Security Agency (NSA) Director, Maj. Gen. Prince C. Johnson, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a minor. Jallah was arrested in January 2026 and stood trial on charges of gang rape, statutory rape, and kidnapping. The incident occurred on separate dates: November 29, 2025, December 24, 2025, and January 1 to 3, 2026, in the Air Field, Sinkor community in Monrovia.

According to the indictment, Jallah lured the victim to his residence and sexually abused him on November 29 and December 24, 2025. The victim, who lived in the same community as Jallah, often rendered domestic services to him, such as washing cars and sweeping the yard, and was compensated with money. On January 1, 2026, Jallah took the victim to an unknown building within the vicinity of Camp Johnson Road, where he was gang-raped by Jallah and two unidentified male adults.

The victim testified in August 2026 that he was assaulted three times, and the court admitted his police statement over defense objections. Investigators also presented phone records that placed Jallah near one of the alleged scenes, contradicting his account that he had no contact with the boy. The state's strongest scientific evidence came from Pascal Bavugirije of the Rwanda Forensic Institute, which analyzed exhibits after Liberia sent them abroad.

DNA profiles from four clothing exhibits matched Jallah's reference sample. However, material collected from the alleged scene produced a mixed profile from unknown people that matched neither Jallah nor the boy. The defense argued that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction, citing inconsistencies in the victim's testimony and the police charge sheet.

The defense also challenged the medical evidence, citing testimony from a nurse who examined the victim at JFK Medical Center, saying the findings could have resulted from rape or another form of trauma. The medical report reached no definitive conclusion that the victim had been raped. Additionally, the defense argued that DNA analysis of forensic experts from Rwanda conducted on clothing collected from the alleged crime scene did not, by itself, establish penetration.

On September 28, 2026, Judge Wesseh Aphonsus Wesseh Sr. suspended the trial pending a ruling on the defense motion for judgment of acquittal. However, on October 27, 2026, the court delivered its verdict, convicting Jallah of rape and sentencing him to 15 years in prison. The court also ordered Jallah to pay compensation to the victim.

Jallah's conviction marks a significant milestone in the fight against sexual violence in Liberia. The case highlights the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, particularly those in positions of power and authority. The sentence sends a strong message that rape and other forms of sexual violence will not be tolerated in Liberian society.

Key points

• Peter Bon Jallah was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a minor.
• The incident occurred on separate dates in 2025 and 2026 in Monrovia.
• DNA evidence and victim testimony were key factors in Jallah's conviction.