By Christian J. Appleton
Nearly four years after Joseph Ponpon, then an assigned bailiff at the Gedetarbo Magisterial Court in Pleebo, Maryland County, was publicly accused of involvement in an alleged gang rape, official court records show that the criminal proceedings ultimately ended with a Grand Jury Bill of Ignoramus, a court-ordered permanent release, and a Certificate of Acquittal.
Ponpon was arrested and charged in November 2022 alongside Alphonso Togba in connection with allegations involving a 13-year-old girl in Zone 8, Pleebo District. At the time, media reports citing a police charge sheet indicated that the two men were charged with gang rape under Section 14.73 of Liberia’s Penal Law. Ponpon consistently denied the allegation.
Although the police charge sheet detailed allegations concerning the circumstances of the incident and referenced a medical examination of the alleged victim, the filing represented initial investigative claims rather than a final determination of guilt.
Court records reviewed by Global News Network (GNN) confirm that the matter subsequently proceeded before the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Harper, Maryland County, under the caption Republic of Liberia by and through the Ministry of Justice versus Joseph Ponpon and Alphonso Togba, involving charges of Statutory and Gang Rape.
On March 20, 2023, the Maryland County Grand Jury returned a Bill of Ignoramus in the matter, formally declining to issue an indictment based on the evidence presented by prosecutors. Following this determination, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court issued an order on March 21, 2023, addressing matters from its February Term. The order referenced the Grand Jury’s finding and instructed the Clerk of Court to issue a permanent release for the defendants.
Two days later, on March 23, 2023, the Clerk of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court issued an official document titled Certificate of Acquittal. The certificate identifies Ponpon and Togba as the defendants, notes the initial charges of Statutory and Gang Rape, and formally confirms the conclusion of the case in their favor.
This case underscores the critical legal distinction between an initial allegation, a formal criminal charge, and a final judicial finding. While the defendants faced public accusations and police charges in 2022, the official judicial outcome established no guilt; instead, the Grand Jury declined to indict, the Circuit Court ordered a permanent release, and the court issued formal certificates of acquittal.
For Ponpon, who was serving in a court-related role when the accusations surfaced, these judicial records represent a vital legal resolution that must contextualize any future reference to the 2022 allegations.
Furthermore, the proceedings highlight broader standards for responsible journalism when reporting on sexual offense allegations. Media coverage must clearly differentiate between police claims, prosecutorial presentations, grand jury findings, and final court rulings. In light of the documented Certificate of Acquittal and circuit court orders, the 2022 allegations should not be reported as established facts against either Ponpon or Togba.