One week after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended the laying of a charge, police have yet to arraign Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) manager Andrew Kellman, who is accused of sexually assaulting a worker at the facility.
The DPP’s Communication Officer Liz Rahaman yesterday confirmed that the case file was returned to the police with recommendation that a charge of sexual assault be instituted against Kellman.
Last Wednesday, the DPP’s Chambers, in a press statement, said, “Based on the evidence contained in the police file, legal advice has been given to the Guyana Police Force for the charge of sexual assault to be instituted against the accused Andre Kellman.” The advice was given almost two months after a complaint was made to the police. Kellman is accused of kissing and touching a woman employed at the facility without her consent on July 30th, 2018. After no action was taken despite complaints to the CJIA’s management, the woman filed a report with the police on June 17th this year.
The management of the airport, in a press release, had announced on the evening of June 18th that a senior manager had “proceeded on leave to make way for an ongoing police investigation,” while adding that the complainant’s security credentials were also withdrawn.
It said the action followed the opening of a police investigation based on the report by the complainant. “The alleged incident …was previously investigated by airport management. At the time, there was no evidence found for further action to be taken,” the release had said.
The airport management had also said that Kellman was sent on leave in order to facilitate the probe.
In early July, Stabroek News had reported that Kellman was back at work. However, it remains unclear if he remains on duty. The airport had indicated its commitment to ensuring a “safe working environment for all employees and all persons who work at and use the airport” and added that in light of the recent incident, steps were being taken to strengthen the existing protocols. In late July, it announced the commencement of its interventions designed to tackle the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.
