Full Text: On November 2, 2025, Shine Liberia claimed that Musa Bility, Representative of District #7, Nimba County's son, Peach Bility, who was convicted for 4 years, vanished from the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach).
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Court records reveal that Peach was arrested in March 2024 for drug possession and firearms violations. The LDEA's documentation shows the following items were seized: 400 grams of marijuana, 24 grams of kush, and two firearms.
The Grand Jury of Montserrado County formally indicted Peach Bility with multiple offenses, including unlicensed possession of controlled substances; sale and trade of controlled substances; administration and dispensation; delivery and distribution; and transit and transportation.
The LDEA investigation uncovered that the defendant used his vehicle to store narcotics intended for distribution, substances were being sold on the black market across various communities, and target customers included students, motorcyclists, truck drivers, and street vendors.
A laboratory analysis carried out by the drug agency identified the seized substances as a cannabis and fentanyl mixture (known as "kush") and cocaine. The seized drugs were valued at US$428.00 (L$81,320.00) and US$7,000.00 (L$1,425,000.00).
During his re-arraignment at Criminal Court “C,” Bility entered a guilty plea. Through his legal counsel, he asked Judge Joe Barkon to exercise leniency and to temper justice with mercy, stating that he recognized the harmful effects of drugs on society.
On July 18, 2025, Judge Barkon ruled that the offense to which Bility pleaded guilty violates Sections 14.85 and 14.89 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023. These provisions address the unlicensed possession, sale, trade, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution, dispatch in transit, transportation, and possession of controlled drugs and substances, classified as a first-degree felony under the Act.
The Judge noted that such offenses carry a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years and a minimum of ten (10) years. However, he stated that the Court considered the defendant’s voluntary and remorseful guilty plea during the sentencing process.
Judge Barkon sentenced Bility to four (4) years imprisonment, deducting the eight (8) months he had already spent in pre-trial detention. The ruling further provides that three (3) months before the completion of his sentence, Bility is to be released to the Division of Probation Services at the Ministry of Justice for counseling, probation services, and rehabilitation, intended to support his reintegration into society and enable him to make meaningful contributions to national development.
Verification: To verify Shine Liberia’s claim, The Stage Media contacted the Ministry of Justice for an official statement.
Jutonu Y. Kollie, Director of Press and Public Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, dismissed the claim as entirely fabricated:
He stated that the assertion or reportage by Shine Liberia is fake, misguided, and misleading with no substance of truth-telling. “Peach Bility is currently serving his term at the Monrovia Central Prison. He is not missing, and he has not escaped or vanished as erroneously reported.”
Kollie added that the Ministry initially chose not to respond publicly in order “not to give credence to platforms seeking popularity at the expense of credible institutions.”
The head of the Bureau of Correction and Rehabilitation (BCR), Gabriel F. Ndupellar, said the claim is not true. "Bility is in custody; I saw him this evening after."
When contacted for clarification, Shine Liberia stated that the information was initially reported as ‘reportedly.’ The outlet added that after further verification, they confirmed that Peace (Peach) remains in jail. TSM noticed that Shine did not make a separate post that Bility remained behind bars at the Monrovia Center Prison, commonly known as South Beach in Monrovia. We also contacted Musa Bility, father of Peach, who said he has no idea of the claim, confirming that his son is in prison. "I have no idea about his release. All I know is he’s in jail."
Conclusion: The claim that Bility is in custody is unproven on the grounds that Shine Liberia did not provide evidence of the claim. Additionally, since the Ministry of Justice public relations officer Kollie and BCR head Ndupellar, the official custodian of prisoners, debunked the claims, the claim is false.
