-following questioning at Cove and John station on rape allegation
Former Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, who turned himself in to police at the Cove and John station yesterday morning following a rape complaint was last night released on $500,000 bail.
This was disclosed by his attorney Bernard Da Silva. Da Silva who accompanied him to the station, told reporters that Dharamlall was invited to the station. Da Silva explained that his client is denying the allegations of sexual assault made against him.
“He is cooperating with the police. I have had the privilege of turning him in. He just conducted an interview of which he denied all the allegations and the police will have to take it from there.”
Da Silva left the Cove and John Police station shortly after the interview was conducted and stated that Dharamall was being processed as he remains in police custody. He was later released on $500,000 bail.
“I have full confidence in the police to do their work. I do not want to interfere and therefore I do not want to remain with him. I have given him instructions and he is mature enough to follow my instructions,” Da Silva explained.
Dharamlall was invited to the Cove and John Police Sation following an allegation made against him by Sarah Hakh.
The Guyana Police Force confirmed that consequent to the sexual assault allegations levelled against Dharamlall, he turned himself in at 9.20 am.
On Monday, Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum had noted that the allegations are “serious” and are under investigation.
“Relative to questions from the media regarding the sexual assault allegations against former minister Nigel Dharamlall, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has indicated that a formal report was made by the (complainant) to Police at the Cove and John Police Station. He noted that the allegations are serious and the matter is under active investigation,” the statement said.
The statement from the police was posted in the Joint Services/Press Team WhatsApp group days after Hakh, during a virtual press conference, made sexual assault allegations against the former minister and had stated that the police finally took her report after three attempts.
In a statement issued to the press following the public allegations, the former minister said that he had always maintained a cordial relationship with Hakh, but that her demeanour changed after he rebuffed her advances and rejected her attempts to engage in an intimate relationship.
He also accused Hakh of launching a campaign to tarnish his reputation through social media, leaks to the traditional media, and a “whisper campaign”, and questioned what had reignited her attempts to harm his reputation, particularly at this time.
Hakh alleged that she was raped twice by the minister on two separate occasions. According to her, the first incident occurred in September 2020, when she was invited to meet with Dharamlall at his residence to discuss a job opportunity. She broke down in tears as she related that during the meeting, the Minister pulled her into a room, became aggressive, and sexually assaulted her.
Hakh further alleged that the second incident occurred in 2021, when she contacted the Ministry about non-payment of her contract during her stint working there. She said that in this scenario, she was invited to meet with Dharamlall again at his then residence.
Further, in her statement, Hakh accused Dharamlall of cyberbullying and making homophobic remarks on social media, which she claimed were intended to intimidate and silence her.
It is not the first-time rape allegations have been reported to the police implicating the former minister as in the first quarter of last year, similar accusations arose from a 16-year-old female. After some time, the complainant decided not to press charges. Dharamlall then resigned from his post and from parliament. There had been concerns that the complaint of this 16-year-old had not been properly and expeditiously handled by the police and the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
