MONROVIA – Catholic priest Daniel George of Christ the King Church was released from the Monrovia Central Prison in March after spending six months in detention without being formally indicted, a violation of Liberia’s criminal procedure law.
George had been arrested on October 12, 2024, following allegations from a 16-year-old girl who accused him of repeated sexual abuse and of issuing threats against both her and her mother. However, prosecutors failed to bring the case to court within the required timeframe, prompting his defense team to take legal action.
Under Liberian law, the state is obligated to indict a defendant within two court terms after an arrest. George’s attorney, Cllr. Elisha T.J. Forkeyoh Sr., filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the prolonged pre-indictment detention was unlawful. Prosecutors raised no objection, and the court subsequently granted the motion.
The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the state retains the right to refile the case in the future should it choose to do so. George’s release has stirred public reaction, especially among advocates for survivors of sexual violence, who have long criticized delays and procedural failures in prosecuting gender-based crimes.
While the legal process played out in his favor, the allegations against the priest remain unresolved, and the possibility of future prosecution still hangs in the balance.
