-In Bryant McGill Rape Case
MONROVIA – The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), a non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political Liberian organization has condemned Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman for his “deliberate refusal” to arrest former Deputy Minister Bryant McGill, who stands accused of the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl.
In a statement released Tuesday, AFELL expressed profound disappointment and alarm over the police chief’s handling of the case, which they argue sets a dangerous precedent that shields the powerful and silences victims. The controversy stems from a recent press briefing in which Inspector General Coleman stated that the police had yet to establish “probable cause” for McGill’s arrest.
This justification, AFELL contends, is both legally baffering and disingenuous, given that investigators are in possession of two key pieces of evidence: a medical report and the survivor’s own “persistent testimony” that “Uncle Bryant raped her more than once.”
“AFELL wonders as to what constitutes ‘Probable Cause’ by Director Coleman in a case of statutory rape,” the statement reads, highlighting the fundamental legal principle that an accuser’s credible testimony alone is often sufficient for an arrest.
The group sharply criticized Coleman’s heavy reliance on a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from the Youth and Sports Ministry, where McGill served as Deputy Minister, to justify the lack of an arrest. AFELL questioned the footage’s authenticity, noting it was managed by the suspect’s own IT team and could have been “doctored or manipulated.”
“Even more disturbing… is the fact that he dismally failed to state the authenticity of the CCTV footage which must meet specific legal requirements as to its relevance, reliability, and validity,” the lawyers argued, suggesting this reliance is a deliberate tactic “to prevent the prosecution of Suspect McGill.”
AFELL accused the Police Director of effectively acting as a judge and jury by applying the standard of “Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt”—the threshold for a criminal conviction—to what should be a simple arrest decision. This, they warn, “has the propensity of silencing victims/survivors of abuse and sexual violence and to derail justice for women in Liberia.”
The statement also raised urgent concerns for the well-being of the 14-year-old survivor. AFELL revealed that the girl has cried to them, reporting intimidation from “police’s continuous demand for questioning at the police station.” The association is calling for this practice to stop immediately, insisting the traumatized minor should be in a safe home for emotional stability, not subjected to repeated interrogations.
While commending President Joseph N. Boakai for his “immediate action” to suspend and replace McGill, AFELL challenged the Police Inspector General: “Mr. Inspector General, with all due respect, you are not the defense counsel nor the court! Act now and immediately arrest suspect, Bryant McGill.” The legal body called for the protection of women and children, declaring, “LET JUSTICE BE DONE TO ALL.“
The Incident:
The alleged assault took place on August 30, 2025, after the 14-year-old daughter of Christopher Davis, the Deputy Chief of Security for Administration at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, traveled to the Ministry to deliver items to her aunt’s canteen. When she did not return home for several hours, her family grew concerned and launched a search, eventually finding her as she was riding home on a motorcycle.
It was then that she disclosed she had been assaulted by “Uncle Bryant”—identified as Deputy Minister Bryant McGill—who she stated had forced himself on her and torn her undergarments during the attack. The case was immediately reported to the Liberia National Police, and a medical examination was conducted; the resulting report, which confirmed the assault, was submitted to the police to aid the investigation.
Despite mounting pressure from civil society, including the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), the Women’s Legislative Caucus, and prominent human rights lawyer Tiawan Saye Gongloe—all demanding McGill’s immediate suspension and arrest—the police have maintained a methodical public stance. This has fueled accusations of preferential treatment and raised public concern that political connections may be undermining the equal application of the law.
While McGill remains free, another case proceeded swiftly: Sando Kromah, a 34-year-old contractor with the Ministry of Agriculture, was remanded to Monrovia Central Prison on September 30, 2025, after being charged with statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl. Under Liberian law, statutory rape is a non-bailable first-degree felony.
