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Member of Parliament and Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) attorney at-law, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, held back no punches addressing the recent rape allegation against former minister Nigel Dharamlall, as well as the just concluded Local Government Elections and Guyana’s future. He was speaking on a ‘GlobeSpan 24X7’ programme, hosted by Charles Sugrim and Dr. Asquith Rose.
In his usual forthright style, the politician said from his perspective, as a lawyer who worked in the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) chamber for years, the information in a statement by the minor “was sufficient for sodomy and rape to be the charges against the minister.” Also, medical examination reveals evidence consistent with sexual intercourse, the attorney stated. The party leader said it was therefore amazing that the matter took a turn a couple days later.
The advice not to proceed with the matter was given by DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack S.C. According to the Guyana Police Force, in a statement, Ali-Hack “disclosed that consideration was given to the fact that the complainant gave a further statement to investigators that she wishes to withdraw her complaint against Dharamlall and that her decision was not influenced by anyone and that same was in her best interest.”
According to the Police, the DPP in her advice, stated, based on the fact that the virtual complainant’s statement was taken by a forensic interviewer in the presence of a parent, a Child Care officer and a Police officer and that such statement was free and voluntary, the Office has “concluded that in the absence of the victim’s complaint, there is no legal provision for the Police to proceed with the matter.”
Recounting his role in the matter, Ramjattan said after news of the alleged rape of the 16-year- by the minister hit social media Child Protection Agency took over the matter. Under the Sexual Offences Act a 16-year-old is considered a minor and cannot give consent to sexual activity.
“This is an extraordinary heinous crime committed and it is important for us to understand that the police were only interested in getting public retraction statements,” the member of parliament stressed.
He made known that because he felt efforts would be made to cover up the alleged incident, which he abhorred, he offered his services to the mother. The attorney said on the morning of the 21st June, he turned up but was not allowed access to anybody. Going further, Ramjattan said as “a matter of fact, the child was not there. The mother and younger brother-who was the one told to watch television while the act was [allegedly] committed at the minister’s house- was present.”
According to lawyer, the minor’s mother indicated to the authorities that he, as their counsel, would like to see the statement the minor gave the day prior but this was denied, on some pretest, that it was not in accordance with some protocol, which he asked to see and was told they didn’t have it handy. Undaunted by the denial Ramjattan said he sought to engage the DPP and Attorney General via WhatsApp, indicating that he is providing legal guidance and is being denied access to his client.
The attorney also advised, the teen’s mother indicated that the authorities wanted to take a statement from her eight-year-old son.
“The mother indicated that she wanted me present and they said that it was against protocol. The mother also highlighted that the interview went well with the little boy and she told me exactly what he said in the forensic interview,” he informed
It is Ramjattan’s belief Dharamlall sought to subvert the course of justice, and that this in part based on the minor who “[i]n her statement… indicated that her parents took $10 million. She also said that the minister’s room was repainted and the furniture removed. She was psychologically choked up.”
The minor was allegedly rape last December. According to social media postings that went viral, her interaction with Dharamlall, then Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, was a result of his ministry sponsoring her for an indigenous pageant.
Reviewing how events unfolded on the matter and advising of the importance of justice being served Ramjattan he had skepticism the authorities would have acted consistent with the rule of law. “From the inception, I knew it was going to be a cover up and that is why I offered my services to the mother. This is an extraordinary heinous crime committed and it is important for us to understand that the police were only interested in getting public retraction statements,” the member of parliament emphasised.
