By Julius Konton
The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia has warned strongly against interference with the ongoing investigation linking Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Bryant Mcgill to rape with the aim of compromising the case.
“Anyone found interfering or intervening for a compromise of the case will be held for obstruction of Justice, which is a violation of the relevant provisions of the Penal Law of Liberia”, AFELL’s President Cllr. Philomena Williams reemphasized.
As a strong advocacy body who has been in the vanguard of advocating for the protection of the rights of women and girls over the period, AFELL pledged its commitment to joining the Ministry of Justice as usual to prosecute the case.
The professional body comprising seasoned female lawyers of Liberia at the same time call on the State to strengthen the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Unit of the Ministry of Justice, by providing the necessary financial support for its smooth operations to ensure adequate functionality in addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence issues in Liberia and also the renovation of the office.
AFELL stated that while it recognizes the rights of the accused, they also demand Justice for the minor under the Rule of Law.
“We therefore call on the police to speedily investigate this grave crime, by performing adequate analysis, by conducting thorough examinations, while utilizing a survivor center approach in all of the processes, and immediately arrest Deputy Minister, Bryant McGill and forward the case to court for prosecution”, AFELL boss reechoed.
AFELL stressed that it is saddened that authorities with the obligation to safeguard, protect, and promote the welfare of children under the laws are being accused of perpetrating sexual violence against minors.
According to AFELL, Statutory Rape which is non-consensual even if the minor appears to agree, is a grave offense under the law, as such, it is deeply concerned that from the time of the submission of the report and the identification of the alleged perpetrator, the police is yet to establish probable cause to make an arrest.
As a means of following up on the case, AFELL’s delegation visited the Police on Monday, September 15, 2025, and was dismayed at seeing the suspect loitering at the Police Station because to date he has not been arrested for Statutory Rape, considering the time the crime was reported to the Police on September 2, 2025, to the date aforesaid.
It can be recalled that Information provided by the father of the survivor revealed that the medical report established that indeed the 14 years old minor survivor was sexually tempered with, which indicates the commission of Statutory Rape.
The professional legal group comprising women indicated that in cases of statutory rape, where the victim is underage, the consent of the victim is irrelevant, and evidence of the sexual act is sufficient for probable cause.
AFELL maintains that considering that the medical report already in the possession of the police has established that the minor/survivor was ‘sexually tempered with’, and the alleged suspect has been identified, present sufficient evidence to determine probable cause to the commission of the crime of Statutory Rape for which an arrest must be made for the perpetrator.
Meanwhile, The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) expressed regrets to the family of the fourteen (14) years old girl (name withheld) who was allegedly raped by the Deputy Minister of Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bryant McGill and urged them to remain patient with certainty that the law will take its course.
