Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando on Thursday sought to address growing public debate over the Liberia National Police’s handling of two high-profile cases involving Bryant McGill and Sando Kromah.
During the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, Sando explained that while some critics have questioned why McGill has not been arrested, unlike Agriculture Ministry contractor Kromah who was quickly jailed, the two cases carry different legal circumstances.
Quoting police authorities, Sando emphasized that the distinction lies in the availability of evidence. “Police reiterate there is no special treatment given to anyone,” he said. “In one case, evidence was immediately available, the suspect was caught in the room with the victim. In the other, involving the suspended deputy minister, investigators must first establish probable cause before moving forward. The police have no interest in who the accused is; their only interest is to investigate and follow the law.”
Sando’s remarks come amid mounting criticism that McGill, a prominent political figure, has not been detained, raising suspicions of preferential treatment. He pushed back against those assumptions, stressing that President Boakai’s decision to suspend McGill showed that no official is beyond scrutiny.
“When I listen to the discussions, people claim the police arrested one person and spared the other. But that is why the President took action, to ensure transparency while investigations continue,” Sando noted. “The facts and circumstances of these cases are not identical.”
Kromah, 34, faces statutory rape charges after police reported that he assaulted a 14-year-old girl inside his Vai Town residence on September 24. A medical examination confirmed evidence of abuse, leading to his detention at the Monrovia Central Prison while awaiting indictment.
Meanwhile, police have not yet provided an update on the ongoing investigation into McGill, leaving the public awaiting further clarity.
