Police Monday charged five persons for allegedly stealing 15 pieces of solar panel street lights value at US$10,500.

They were later remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison. Suspects Joshua Jaeploe, Varney Massaley, Andrew J. Sew, Princeton A. Williams and David Kollie were arrested on January 21, 2013 on 12th Street and turned over to the Anti-Theft Squad/CID Investigators at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police.

During preliminary investigations, it was established that the stolen street lights belonged to the Wonderful New Energy Company located on 7th Street, Sinkor.

The Wonderful New Energy Company Project Manager Mr. Sun Jiudong told investigators that his company bought the items to install street lights in Monrovia and its environs for the government.

He said a total of 640 pieces of special panel street lights intended for traffic and 16 others were used while the remaining 624 were left in the warehouse.

He added that every time when they were going for launch, they usually left defendant Joshua Jaeploe, then Supervisors of the warehouse in charge.

According to him, they observed that 15 pieces of the solar panel street lights valued at US$10,500 were stolen.

Police claimed that suspect Jaeploe admitted to the crime, saying he conspired with co-defendant

Andrew J. Sew, Varney Massaley, Princeton A. Williams and David Kollie and committed the act on January 11, 2013.