MONROVIA – In the wake of the disease outbreak allegedly responsible for the death of some inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP), Cllr. Isaac George of the Sexual & Gender-based Violence (SGBV) branch under the Ministry of Justice, has been accused by whistle blower of being responsible for the over crowdedness of the prison by refusing to release alleged rape detainees, who were given waiver by the court.
In a recent interview, Director George dismissed allegation of being responsible for the over crowdedness of the prison but said by now Liberia should have had another prison facility constructed. However, letting go of rape perpetrators, is against the law of the state, which he cannot do.
“I do not have control over sexual offenses; we do not have a law that someone can waive a rape case, because there is no law in our penal code which says that. If someone walks in here and says they want to waive a rape case, do you expect us to release a state rapist? Many people have come to my office to say they waive a rape case because the community, church or family had talked to them to let go of the case. Do you think that is enough reason to allow someone who committed such crime to be released? If I do that, it means I will be opening floodgates. And people will be compromising cases behind the scene and coming to bail people out,” Cllr George said.
He said the reason the prison is overcrowded is because the families of many prisoners with minor offense cases are not getting them out, due to lack of information from their lawyers.
When asked why that is, he said his office has been educating people via radio about bailing people out of prison but citizens through their lawyers are not using the methods.
“Prisoners with minor crimes can be released from prison by using cash bond, real estate tax clearance, insurance bond and the 13.5 categories under the criminal law. So, there are several ways of bailing people out of prison. But people are not using these procedures,” he said.
After this newspaper had reported the outbreak of an unknown disease that was said to have been killing inmates at the prison facility in Monrovia, due to the over crowdedness of the facility, some pre-detainees inmates were released, but the prison whistleblower said many more people should have been released but Director George is not honoring SGBV cases that have passed through the waiver processes even if the Chief Prosecutor approves and sends them to him.
“Cllr. George is the major reason why the rape barracks which is the most populated barrack within the entire South Beach still has 240 inmates apart from those who encountered unfortunate death due to disease outbreak, few of whom who had the waiver in their files for months and some over a year but didn’t live to achieve freedom.
Followed by failure from the judiciary to speedily look into cases of long-stay detainees whereas some are in prison for over two years without going to court, which is totally against the law. The cases are dead on arrival when it reaches SGBV Director George and this has been one of the major reasons lots of cases with waiver have been on his desk for months stating that the waiver in his own view means the defendant did the act, but the complainant decided to forgive therefore defendants should still be prosecuted,” he said.
The source further alleged that Cllr. George visited the Monrovia Central Prison compound on December 16, 2022, to have a look at the disastrous happenings within the facility without working out any modality or leaving any message of hope but was only heard saying; he’s going to rethink over the matter thereby ignoring the emergency health crisis.
“Deputy Superintendent J.J. Juah escorted Cllr. Isaac George into the facility regarding way-forward such as quick impact actions to seek the release of long-standing detainees within the Rape Barrack. And by order of Courts, the action was to seek a huge reduction of inmates within the compound as well as releasing those who have already completed the waiver. This means a complainant has asked that s/he has no cause to further proceed with the rape case and hereby asked that the court grants the defendant possible and steadfast release from prison. Therefore, the question now remains: should more people in the Rape Barrack (MC Barrack) continue to stay behind bars in huge numbers and get affected by this unknown disease even after receiving advice from medical expects, why SGBV Director Cllr. Isaac George sits reluctantly?” the whistleblower asked.
The prison facility, which was built to hold 337 prisoners, now has over 1600 prisoners, hence creating food shortage and poor medical condition resulting to death within the facility.
However, Assistant Justice Minister for Correction Eddie Tarawali said on a local radio station that prisoners are not dying and the sick ones have been transferred to hospitals. He admitted the prison is overcrowded and has approximately 2000 prisoners.
“The Attorney General has set up a committee working along with stakeholders to ensure that they erect additional wing at the Monrovia Central Prison. As I speak to you, the Ministry of Public Works has just left the prison and has done the analysis with respect as to how we can construct a new wing at the prison,” he disclosed.