PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado – A 12-year old girl has been confirmed pregnant after reporting being raped three months ago. The incident occurred in the Liberia Broadcasting System Community in Paynesville.

According to the victim, her alleged rapist, identified as Prince (also known as “Children’s Doctor”), committed the crime after she returned from school one afternoon. Prince called her to help him buy something from a provision shop in the neighborhood.

“When I went to him after he called me to help him buy something, he took a knife from the kitchen and told me he was about to do something to me and if I exposed him, he would kill me,” the victim told our reporter.

From the day of the incident, the victim explained that Prince passed at their home every evening displaying the knife and intimidating her. In tears, she added that he told her that “he would use the knife to kill me if I informed my parents or anyone about what he did to me.”

Betty, the mother of the victim whose last name has been concealed to protect her daughter’s identity, said she became aware of the situation when a relative in the neighborhood noticed a change in the girl’s behavior.

After the incident, the girl had refused to play with friends and kept to herself. She was often quiet and sickly.

After a thorough interrogation, Betty said her daughter told them that she was raped by Prince.

The mother said medical reports have shown that the victim is about three months pregnant.

Betty has said she does not want the perpetrator of the “wicked” act to go unpunished.

“Prince’s parents say they want us to compromise the case, but we will not accept that,” she said, referring to a request from the accused’s family for a settlement.

The victim’s father said the matter has been reported to the Liberia National Police since January 16, but the perpetrator remains in hiding and is yet to be arrested.

When contacted, Police Spokesman Sam Collins said he could not deny or confirm the situation because the matter had not reached his desk.

Collins, however, promised to make a follow-up with the Paynesville Police Depots on the matter.

Featured photo by Jefferson Krua