Monrovia – The Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice has ordered the transfer of the negligent homicide case involving renowned businessman George Kailondo to Kakata, Margibi County.
Kailondo was charged by officers of the Liberia National Police in October 2016 with negligent homicide and forwarded to the lower court late October but was admitted to bail until trial.
However, last week he filed as motion asking the Magisterial Court to have the case transferred to Margibi County, a venue he says he preferred to Monrovia.
Lawyers representing Kailondo in the motion stated that since their client was charged by the police, there have been several negative media reports on him which, they could jeopardize the case.
“Your honor if the case is tried in Monrovia, the defendant Kailondo will not get fair and impartial trial,” the motion averred.
Kailondo’s lawyers further indicated that besides prejudice against their client, the case needs to be tried in Margibi County which is the center of concentration of the act.
The prosecution team objected the transfer request claiming that the Monrovia City Court was capable to handle the case as the Monrovia City Court has adjudicated several criminal cases impartially by virtue of law.
Magistrate Kennedy Peabody in his ruling on the motion agreed to transfer the case to Margibi County indicating that though the lower court was competent to handle the case, he wondered why the police chose not to investigate the case in Margibi County where the act was committed.
“In the ruling of this court that the motion for transfer of this case is granted and the resistance thereof is denied and that the clerk of this court is ordered to prepare all documents relating to the case and have it transfer to the Magistrate Court in Margibi County,” said Magistrate Kennedy Peabody.
Businessman Kailondo was charged in connection with the death of the former manager of the GT Bank Dan Orugon who died during a boat ride with businessman Kailondo.
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 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 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.
“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 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 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.
The suspect told the Police that he and the victim had no joint business except his (Kailondo) business transaction with the GT Bank, where the victim was serving as CEO of the Liberian branch but he denied riding the boat on excessive speed
“He denied riding the boat on excessive speed, which caused the victim to fall in the river as alleged by Mrs. Orogun.
“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 from him in order to not release damaging information about the GT Bank.
At the same time another group of journalists was demanding US$100, 000 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.