Logging Company accused of Bad Labor Practice, Torture of Employees

CIE Logging Company, a logging Company working in the Korninga ‘A’ Community Forest in Bopolu District, Gbarpolu County has been  accused of bad labor practice and tortures of two of its employees. 

According to report gathered by this paper, the General Manager of the company, only identified as Wang, who is a Chinese national,  recently ordered the torturing of two Liberian staff members. 

The report divulged that Mr. Wang released order on officers of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the Liberia National Police (LNP) assigned with the company and an officer of the Armed Forces of Liberia to beat the two employees identified as Abraham Trawaly and John Wilson. 

The report furthered that the ERU officer and three officers of the AFL entered the company’s yard on Thursday of last week using a vehicle belonging to Mr. Wang of CIE Logging Company located Po River Bomi County and beat the two men.

Victims Abraham Trawaly and John Wilson narrated that after the arrival of the officers in the yard, they were informed by the officers that they (victims) had a matter reported at the court. 

According to them, while in the process of trying to ask on what basis of why they were being apprehended, the officers of both institutions started to beat on them and later arrested them. 

The two victims, Abraham Trawaly and John Wilson said they were severely beaten by the officers, thus sustaining major injuries, while some of the belongings were got missing.

“The officers beat us badly and later transported us to Cllr. Arthur Johnson law firm instead of a police station or the court,” the victims explained.

“After an hour, the officers vanished with our monies and working materials, after we were released we reported the matter to R1 of the LNP and a case number were given,” the victims added.

The victim accused General Manager Wang of using state security officers to intimidate peaceful and hardworking Liberian citizens.

At the same time, they called on the Ministry of Justice through the Liberian National Police(LNP) to immediately investigate and ensure that the perpetrators of the incident are brought to book.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wang couldn’t be reached for comments as several calls and text messages went unanswered. 

However, this paper contacted the Communications Manager of the company, one Mr. James, but he declined to comment. 

He urged the paper to write whatever it can, because according to him, he is not in the position or readiness to speak to any allegation of such. 

“You can go ahead with your news story. I am not ready to speak to anything of such. You are free to report it,” he stated.