Custodial dad tries to sell 7-year-old son (Monrovia, Liberia)

Custodial dad HENRY FLOMO has been arrested for trying to sell his 7-year-old son for around $750. The boy's mother is apparently dead, and Dad thought that selling the boy would allow him to raise some capital for a new business.

http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/2969

Man Attempts to Sell Son for L$50,000
Publication Date: November 16, 2009 - 11:22am
Updated: November 16, 2009 - 10:00pm

By: Stephen Binda

MONROVIA – Police in Monrovia have arrested a 61-year-old man for allegedly attempting to sell his seven-year-old son for L$50,000 (~US$746).

Henry Flomo, a resident of the Red-light Community in Paynesville, was arrested Saturday on Ashmun Street, Monrovia.

Flomo allegedly told a resident of Ashmun Street, who posed as a buyer of the child, that he (Flomo) was selling his son as a result of severe economic hardship he was undergoing.

Speaking to the Daily Observer Saturday, the “buyer,” who only identified himself as Andrew, said that a few days ago,Flomo had informed him about his plans to sell his son.

According to Andrew, Flomo complained that the child was giving him serious problems and had refused to go to school.

Andrew further quoted Flomo as saying during their discussion that he was tired of suffering and needed money to do business in order to improve his living condition.

Flomo, who is believed to be the father of six children, according to Andrew, further told the latter that the child was being sold for L$50,000.

Andrew further quoted Flomo as telling him that a portion of the money would be used to transport the child from his (suspect Flomo’s) Red Light-Paynesville residence to his (Andrew’s) Ashmun Street home.

Andrew said he agreed to pay a reduced price of L$30,000 instead of the initial LD$50,000, after which he said he prevailed on the suspect to accompany him to Red Light to get the child.

Andrew further told the Daily Observer that upon their departure for Red Light, he secretly invited a police officer, who posed as his (Andrew’s) relative, to accompany him to Flomo’s Red Light residence to get his merchandize.

“When we got to Red Light,” Andrew told the Daily Observer, “Flomo requested the L$30,000 payment.”

However, Andrew added, he told the suspect to entice the child with L$20 to come with the suspect and that he (Andrew) was prepared to pay the L$30,000 at his Ashmun Street residence, where the money was.

“I gave him L$20 to go for the child. After ten minutes, Flomo returned with a little boy, whom he called Abel,” Andrew said.

It was at that point that they headed for central Monrovia where he (Andrew) had promised to pay the amount.

Andrew added that upon their arrival at his residence on Ashmun Street, they entered his room along with the little child, where he asked Flomo his reason for selling the child.

In the room, Andrew said, Flomo reiterated that his decision was based on the economic hardship he was faced with in the country.

Following the suspect’s statement in the presence of the disguised police officer, he (Flomo) was immediately arrested, Andrew told the Daily Observer.

Andrew further informed this paper that he recorded the discussions he held with suspect Flomo relative his plan to sell his son.

Following his arrest, Flomo categorically refuted Andrew’s claims that he was selling his son. Flomo contended that he only appealed to Andrew for assistance as he (Flomo) was poverty-stricken.

Flomo told the Daily Observer that he only complained to Andrew about his family’s poverty and that the latter had told him to come to his house along with his son for a bag of rice. Flomo said Andrew did not deliver the bag of rice to him as he had earlier promised.

“I was only seeking assistance and not trying to sell my son. I have six living children and I love all of them. So why will I want to do such a thing?” Flomo told the Daily Observer Saturday as he was being led away in handcuffs.

Asked what his relation to Andrew was before asking him for assistance, Flomo said he had known him for over two years in the Red Light community.

Further asked by this reporter about the whereabouts of his son Abel’s mother, Flomo informed the Daily Observer that the child’s mother was in Red Light community; but little Abel strongly refuted his father’s assertion.

The child told the Observer that his biological mother was dead. “My ma died,” little Abel said as he looked on innocently.

Asked whether he knew Flomo, Abel replied, “Yes, he is my Pa.”

Abel lamented that since his mother’s death he has been living with his father Flomo and his wife.

Abel also confirmed that he was not in school because his father had not registered him at any school.

Meanwhile, police spokesman George Bardue has confirmed Flomo’s arrest and detention in police custody. Bardue said the suspect was undergoing further police investigation.