Monrovia- July 21, 2022: The Liberia National Police (LNP) has busted a gang of journalists who are said to be in the constant habit of allegedly blackmailing several prominent individuals in the Country.

Those arrested by the LNP are three men who worked with the Spoon Network and an Online TV.

According to LNP Spokesperson, Moses Carter said the journalists contacted a Liberian national and Chief Executive Officer Forbes Agriculture Mr. Philip Baryo that they had classified information on him but wanted money to not publish the story.

Mr. Carter revealed that they told Mr. Baryo that he was allegedly involved in a sex scandal with an eleven-year-old, but wanted Twenty Thousand United States Dollars to conceal the story.

The LNP said Mr. Baryo reluctantly obliged and invited the journalists to his home, and afterward tipped the LNP who responded to his call and apprehended the three.

Spokesperson Carter said those arrested are Melvin Monden 36 years old, Israel Amoah Duncan 37 years old of Spoon TV and FM, and Tennyson Torplue 36 years old of Independent TV Online.

The LNP also revealed that several other journalists including Joseph Somah of TV Lib Online and another identified only as Toby of Online TV involved with the scheme are on the run.

But he was quick to state that the LNP had put out a rigorous search for those on the run

Meanwhile, Spokesman Carter has denied claims that a defendant from the Careysburg Magisterial Court who was detained at the Johnsonville Police Depot died while in police custody.

He clarified that defendant George Brown died while en route to the John F. Kennedy Memorial hospital to seek treatment.

The LNP spokesperson further stated that the LNP Commander at the Johnsonville Police Depot had ensured that the late George Brown received medical attention from a nearby medical facility when he fell ill.
But the police said when George was referred to the local medical facility, the facility decided to transfer Mr. Brown to JFK.

It is why on arrival at the JFK, doctors announced the death of Mr. George Brown upon arrival.