Father Daniel George, a Catholic priest serving at Christ the King Church, was released from the Monrovia Central Prison in March after spending six months in detention without being formally charged, an apparent breach of Liberia’s criminal procedure law.George was arrested on October 12, 2024, following allegations by a 16-year-old girl who accused him of repeated sexual abuse and threats made against her and her mother. Despite the gravity of the accusations, prosecutors failed to file an indictment within the legally mandated period.
According to Liberian law, the government must indict a suspect within two court terms after arrest. George’s lawyer, Cllr. Elisha T.J. Forkeyoh Sr., filed a motion for dismissal on the grounds that the prolonged detention violated his client’s legal rights. With no objection from the prosecution, the court approved the motion.
The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the case can be refiled at a later date if prosecutors choose to pursue it.George’s release has drawn mixed reactions, particularly from advocates for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, who have repeatedly called out Liberia’s justice system for its slow pace and procedural lapses in handling such sensitive cases.While the priest has regained his freedom for now, the allegations remain unresolved, and a potential future prosecution is still on the table.
