Nezaam Ali, the Muslim scholar at the centre of the Turkeyen Masjid child abuse scandal, was yesterday charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust, while police continued to investigate four other reports.
Ali known as ‘Muffi,’ 30, of Lot 268 Section C 5 South, Turkeyen, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the SparendaamMagistrate’s Court, where he was remanded after being arraigned.
Ali was not required to plead to the charges, which allege that he sexually assaulted three boys under the age of 12 years, between December 5 and December 31, last year, at ‘D’ Field Sophia.
The particulars of the charges read that he engaged in sexual penetration of the boys and was in the position of trust and religion to the boys being a religious teacher and knew or reasonably could be expected to have known of the position of trust he held in relation to the boys.
The matter was heard in-camera and as a result, members of the public, including reporters, were barred from hearing the proceedings.
After more than an hour of submissions from Ali’s attorney Vic Puran and Police Prosecutor Sergeant Moore, the magistrate refused bail and remanded the man until February 9.
When Ali, who was free on station bail, arrived at the court he hid his face with a handkerchief. A relative and several men verbally abused members of the media.
As Ali was being led to the station lock ups by a police rank, many flocked the courtyard to get a glimpse of him. Ali, who was dressed in a maroon t-shirt, grey pants and a pair of slippers, shielded his face with his hands.
The mother of some of the boys who were allegedly abused by Ali and other relatives were also present at the court and voiced frustration and anger over what had happen to the children. The woman also repeated to reporters that she was being shunned and threatened. She said “ah get a relief,” in reference to the man being charged, but added that her children, who are in protective custody, are still traumatized. The woman pleaded for her children to receive some sort of counselling to help them overcome the trauma.
The allegations against Ali came to light a few weeks ago when the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) received an anonymous tip. Officials began an investigation and four boys, between the ages of 4 and 10, were identified. The police were informed of the situation and after the boys were medically examined, Ali, who was employed by the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), was arrested but released on $150,000 station bail shortly after. The CIOG had that the man, who was employed by them, had been sent on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Later, two more boys were identified but medical examinations confirmed that only one had been penetrated. The other boy, from the beginning, had said that the man often hugged and fondled him but he was never penetrated.
The names of four others were also provided to officials of the CC&PA. Three of the boys were found in a rural area and doctors confirmed that they had been sexually molested. The fourth boy is yet to be found.
Ali was rearrested and again placed on station bail.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack recused herself from the case after reports surfaced that she attempted to interfere by instructing the police to release the man. She denied the reports. Another senior official at the DPP’s chambers is now handling the case.
