Monrovia – After seven months of silence following the death of Guaranty Trust Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dan Orogun, the Liberia National Police has charged and forwarded to court businessman George B. Kailondo, Sr. on charges of negligent homicide.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo/ [email protected]
“That upon their return from Marshall still in the boat on the water at suspect Kailondo’s house area, they rested the boat, chatted and decided to continue the ride south of the river, while in the process, suspect Kailondo with excessive speed thus causing Mr. Orogun to flipped in the river, that the accident was due to the negligence of Suspect George Kailondo”- Liberian National Police
The businessman is currently on bail following his appearance from the Monrovia City Court. The penalty for negligent homicide is not more than five years behind bars. The police charge sheet said the businessman violated chapter 14.3 and 14.23 of the revised Penal Code of Liberia, endangering the life of another person.
The Police charge sheet revealed that at 17:40 on January 24, 2016, Kailondo informed the authority of the Liberia National Police via mobile about the alleged drowning of former GT Bank Liberia.
The incident occurred in the Yellow Building Community, lower Margibi County in the Junk River at about three miles away from suspect Kailondo’s residence when the victim, his three children and his wife along with Kailondo went for a boat ride on the river.
The victim reported flipped over while sitting at the rear of a blue and white speed boat bearing serial number FL-6853-NV-Regal and fell into the river.
During the investigation, Kailondo admitted that he and Orogun have been friends for the past 4 years and they had ridden in the same boat alongside some friends, including Atty. Saifuah Mai Gray.
The suspect told the Police that he and the victim had no joint business except his (Kailondo’s) business transaction with the GT Bank, where the victim was serving as CEO of the Liberian branch.
“He denied riding the boat on excessive speed, which caused the victim to fall in the river as alleged by Mrs. Orogun.
However, he admitted that the victim alongside his wife and children and two of his (Kailondo’s) servants were on the boat when he fell,” the police charge sheet stated.
The Police charge sheet stated that during their investigation, they found out that there was no safety jacket in the boat and that suspect Kailondo had three glasses, of which they drank alcohol from prior to the boat ride and a cooler of alcoholic beverages was also found onboard the boat.
“Suspect Kailondo was not able to convince investigators as to whether or not he has met with all maritime regulations require operating a boat within the Republic of Liberia.
“The investigation also established that the boat ride suspect Kailondo had with victim Orogun and family on January 24, 2016 was due to the request of the victim Orogun, a call log obtained by the investigation also conformed the communication between Suspect Kailondo and Victim Orogun on the January 20, 2016.”
Accordingly, the LNP revealed that Victim Orogun called Suspect Kailondo to his office and told him that a group of journalists to be identified received US$20,000 USD from him in order to not release damaging information about the G.T Bank.
At the same time another group of journalists was demanding US100, 000 USD from him Orogun reference the same information.
“Accordingly, the name Musa Sackol cell number 0886221124 of the second group of journalists was given to suspect Kailondo to intervene and he (Kailondo) intervened and paid US$19,500 to Journalist Musa Sackor and begged that they should leave his friend Orogun but Sackor received the amount and said that he was going to consult his partners.”
The Police said their investigation revealed that while on the Junk River in the boat on January 24, 2016 Suspect Kailondo allowed Orogun alongside his three children to pilot the boat one at a time.
“That upon their return from Marshall still in the boat on the water at suspect Kailondo’s house area, they rested the boat, chatted and decided to continue the ride south of the river, while in the process, suspect Kailondo with excessive speed thus causing Mr. Orogun to flip in the river,” the police charge sheet said.
Drama at the Court
Lawyers of Defendant Kailondo, prior to his appearance at the Monrovia Magisterial Court, filed his bond but, was not signed by Judge Kennedy Peabody.
He spent less than an hour in the processing of the bail, as judicial sources said the defendant’s bond was already secured and was allegedly in the possession of the city solicitor, who is expected to be the prosecutor in the case.
Also, the defendant did not sit on the defendant’s bench for a minute as he was guarded by court staff, which is far from procedures at court.
The City Solicitor, who was to be prepared for the call of the case, erred when he requested the court for continuance.
A legal pundit says it should not have been his request but lawyers representing the defendant posed no objection to the request.
The Liberia National Police produced two wine glasses at the Monrovia Magisterial court as evidence, instead of three recorded in the charge sheet.