Liberia ex-NSA official gets 50 years for statutory rape
Peter Bon Jallah, 63, was sentenced Tuesday, November 3, for statutory rape of a 16-year-old boy.
Former National Security Agency official Peter Bon Jallah, 63, was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Tuesday, November 3, for the statutory rape of a 16-year-old boy. Criminal Court “E” Judge Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh Sr. handed down the sentence at the Monrovia Central Prison. Jallah was convicted of statutory rape following weeks of legal proceedings.
The court acquitted Jallah of gang rape, stating insufficient evidence, but his kidnapping conviction was quashed due to jurisdictional error and will be pursued in a new trial. Prosecutors presented 12 witnesses, including DNA evidence, though the forensic examiner noted it could not establish when the biological material was deposited. Jallah was arrested in January 2026.
Jallah’s defense lawyer announced plans to appeal the conviction and sentence to the Supreme Court of Liberia. The case has drawn public attention due to Jallah's former position and the involvement of a minor. The judge denied Jallah’s motion for a new trial.
Why it mattersA former National Security Agency official has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for statutory rape, affecting the victim and public trust in the justice system.