Monrovia — About 14 former security officers have been sent to the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice for allegedly violating the Penal Law of Liberia.

Police said the officers were part of a group of deactivated security personnel who allegedly created security threat in Monrovia on Monday, September 17, 2007.

Some disgruntled ex-officers setup road blocks Monrovia, impeding free flow of traffic in demand of retirement and other benefits owed them by the government.

They were arrested by the Liberia National Police (LNP) with the help of UNMIL Police and have since been charged. The Analyst has gathered that four of the ex-officers have served with the Special Security Service (SSS) at the Executive Mansion while two were identified as demobilized AFL soldiers. Others include deactivated officers of the LNP.

The ex-security personnel who were charged for aggravated assault and rioting, according to the police charge sheet, are also accused of violating chapter 14, Sub-chapter 'B'; Section 14.20 and Chapter 17, Sub-chapter A Section 17.1 of the penal law.

Those charged include Gabriel S. Quiqui, Jerry Saye, Samuel Morris, Ernest D. Bankut, Ban Galle Kromah, Johnson Wolo, Francis Davies and others.

Meanwhile, Monrovia City Court Magistrate, Milton Taylor, has sent the 14 ex- officers to the Monrovia Central Prison, pending trial. Though the defendants are entitled to bond under the law, they could not afford a bond to secure their release.

Similar incident occurred last year when ex-security officers stormed the city of Monrovia in demand of salary arrears and benefits allegedly owed them by the government of Liberia.