Moses Owen Browne, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the UK, and Daniel Tarr, Director of the Department of Marine Environmental Protection at the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), have been found guilty of sexual assault by the High Court in Busan, Korea.
The Korean Court sentenced the two diplomats to nine years each following the conviction, consequently leading to their sentence.
According to the LIMA Press statement, released on Wednesday, April 5th, the Government of the Republic of Liberia, through LIMA, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, has instructed its legal representation in Korea, Pureum Law Office, to furnish it with the various Appeal Options available to a criminal defendant under Korean Laws.
It can be remembered that in 2022 that Browne and Tarr, were in South Korea representing Liberia, at a training seminar, organized by the International Maritime Organization and were arrested by the Busan Police for allegedly sexually assaulting two minors, aged 14 and 16, constituting the crime of statutory rape under South Korean criminal law.
As a result, the Government of Liberia has established that any appeal from such a verdict has to be exercised no later than seven (7) days following the rendition of the judgment due to the outcome of the additional appeal, LIMA, shall provide further information to the public once a decision is made regarding the issue of appeal.
The Families of Messrs. Browne and Tarr have since been informed of the Korean Court’s Decision on the matter.
As the situation plays out, the Government of Liberia intends to facilitate the visit to Busan, Korea, of at least one member of each family to ensure, inter alia, that contact between Messrs. Browne and Tarr and their respective families is maintained in the aftermath of the sentence.
With the court sentence at the moment in effect, the Government of Liberia, is guaranteeing to the public that it will continue to engage the Government of the Republic of Korea, through official diplomatic channels, to explore all options about Messrs, Browne, and Tarr.
Figo Mansaray is a Liberian Journalist for over 10 years and currently working with Kukatonon Media Inc and AYV Media Empire.
Figo, a prospective Graduate at the University of Liberia can be contacted via +231777489052/+231881734014 and mfmansaray2015@gmail.com