The charge against Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Andre Kellman, who was accused of sexually assaulting an airport employee, was dismissed yesterday.
In the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, who was presiding over the trial, the virtual complainant told the court that she did not wish to give evidence in the matter. Without her evidence to the court, the matter was dismissed by the magistrate.
Kellman was charged at an in-camera hearing in August last year, almost one year after the alleged assault took place. The charge against Kellman, of Lot 67 Craig Street, Campbellville, alleged that on July 30th, 2018, at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, he touched the woman by kissing her without her consent.
The virtual complainant filed a report with the police on June 17th, 2019, after she said no action was taken on complaints made to the airport’s management.
The CJIA’s management, in a subsequent press statement, had announced on the evening of June 18th, 2019, 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to make way for an ongoing police investigation,” while adding that the complainant’s security credentials were also withdrawn.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 statement had said.
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 CJIA announced the commencement of its interventions designed to tackle the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.
