Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Andre Kellman was this morning charged with the sexual assault of a worker at the airport.
During in-camera proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Kellman was charged with touching an airport employee in a sexual way by kissing her on the mouth without her consent on July 30th, 2018, at the CJIA, Timehri, East Bank Demerara..
He was subsequently released on $70,000 bail by a magistrate
The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions last week announced that based on the evidence gathered from the police investigation, legal advice has been given for the charge of sexual assault to be instituted against Kellman.
His accuser filed a report with the police on June 17th this year after she said no action was taken on complaints made to the airport’s management.
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to make way for an ongoing police investigation,” while adding that the complainant’s security credentials were also withdrawn.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.
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 June, the airport announced the commencement of its interventions designed to tackle the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.