Liberian Pastor Arrested for Trafficking Infant for Adoption
“The Women and Children Protection Section (WACPS) of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Wednesday sent a pastor and her alleged accomplice to court on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and illicit trafficking of human beings.
The crimes are in violation of sections 16.4 and 14.55 of the Penal Law of Liberia.
Rev. Oretha M. Davis, 43, believed to be a local pastor of a church and Kadiatu Momoh Sheriff, 29, were arrested and charged, predicted on a complaint filed by Mr. Sheriff, father of the child.
Rev. Davis is reported to have some connection with John F. Kennedy Hospital, according to the police charge sheet.
Mr. Sheriff told the police that on June 21, 2013, he noticed that his wife Kadiatu has escaped with his baby, Jartu B. Sheriff to an unknown place.
Police said Mr. Sheriff further informed investigators that his brother-in-law, Dominic Momoh later called him [Sheriff] that Kadiatu had travelled to Monrovia, but did give him the location.
Sheriff also explained to the police that on July 20, 2013, he received a phone call from his mother, Jartu Sheriff that Kadiatu reported to her parents that her child, while travelling from Liberia to Freetown, Sierra Leone when missing.
Jartu Sheriff resides in Mobi Village, Sierra Leona, according to the police charge sheet.
Defendant Kadiatu is reported to have informed her parents that immediately following the child’s death, she was buried traditionally at Bo Water Side.
Sheriff said while people were sympathizing with him in Vionjama, Lofa County for the death of little Jartu, one of his friends, Sandee told him that Kadiatu was stopping with one Musa Keita in Barnesville, after she had escaped from Voinjama with the baby.
According to the police, when Sheriff contacted Musa, he confirmed that Kadiatu was stopping with him, but left his place on July 18, 2013.
Musa is said to have denied knowledge of the baby’s death, but stated that he remembered seeing Kadiatu with money in a black plastic bag.
At the time, Musa said the baby was no longer with Kadiatu on the day of her departure from Musa’s house.
However, when Kadiatu was quizzed by her husband, Sheriff about the whereabouts of their baby, she admitted that little Jartu was not dead, but she was alive with Rev. Oretha M. Davis in Monrovia as an adopted child.
Kadiatu informed investigators that she received L$120, 000 [$1,528.66] from Rev. Davis as transportation.
However, police confirmed retrieving L$62, 100 as Fruit of the Crime (FOC) from defendant Kadiatu.
As for defendant, she admitted that she took the child for adoption on 13th Street, Sinkor and later gave Kadiatu L$120,000.
Baby Jartu is said to be three months old.”
Liberia: Pastor Jailed for ‘Child Trafficking’
[All Africa.com 8/15/13 by M. Welemongai Ciapha, II]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Re: “…Mr. Sheriff told the police that on June 21, 2013, he noticed that his wife Kadiatu has escaped with his baby, Jartu B. Sheriff to an unknown place…”
Escaped!?!
Maybe this is a translation gaffe, but it makes one wonder if Kadiatu had reason NOT to want her daughter raised by Mr. Sheriff.
Pastors often participate in these scams, because they can make good money while claiming to aid orphans. We must hold adoptive agencies, religious or not, to the same high standards.
Better still, limit international adoption as money making opportunity.
I agree. If it’s child selling for the birthmother to receive any payment for surrendering a child for adoption, it’s child selling for adoption agencies and others involved in adoption to collect so-called “fees” from PAPs.
We need to get all the profit motive out of child welfare decisions– whether the organization is secular or religious, public or private.