Monrovia – The Liberian Senate has voted in favour of a report to amend the rape law, making rape a bailable crime. The rape law of Liberia has been a controversial law that has landed several men behind bars, some for years in pre-trial detention. The Judiciary Committee also noted from the comparison of the original Rape Law and the proposed amendment that the punishment provided in the original Rape Law appears to be excessive and therefore unconstitutional. In the opinion of the judiciary Committee, the punishment for rape as provided in the Rape Law is excessive and therefore unconstitutional. Rape is a non-bailable offense under the current Rape Law of Liberia with perpetrators having no access to parole while serving his/her term in prison.

Source: Front Page Africa October 05, 2017 03:11 UTC