Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Benschop denies offering Welshman “hush money”

Oct 11, 2014 News

– says he’s been used as a political tool against the Opposition

Political and social activist Mark Benschop yesterday denied allegations that he ever offered any form of compensation to Johnny Welshman Jnr.
Welshman 22, is the young man accusing the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman of sexually molesting him as a child.
Welshman made the allegations on Thursday that Benschop offered him $3M and it was carried as a news article in one of the daily newspapers yesterday.  According to Benschop he is more than convinced that Welshman is being used as a “political tool” against persons who have been critical of the People’s Progressive Party Administration.
According to Benschop, Welshman is hanging onto straws, and the fact that he has leveled the allegations against him suggests that the “political handlers and architects” behind this issue are desperate. Benschop said that he intends to confront the issue at the highest level and in manner which would expose them.
Benschop said that after he was contacted by the newspaper which is close to the Administration, he made it clear that he knew nothing of what Welshman was talking about.
This has to be a “fragment” of his imagination Benschop said.
“I would urge Welshman to bring whatever proof he has that I did this.” Benschop added that if he cannot do that he would take the matter to the court. The social activist also disclosed that he has visited Crime Chief Leslie James on his own in an effort to clarify the matter.
Benschop said he met with James on Friday morning and told him of his intention of having a confrontation between Welshman and himself. He is adamant that this would show that Welshman is a compulsive liar who has personality problems.
Benschop recalled that the allegation may have stemmed from an interview which he had done with Welshman. He said that Welshman visited his office a few weeks ago to be interviewed for his radio programme.
Benschop told Kaieteur News that he recorded the interview and everything that was said during the young man’s visit to his office.
According to Benschop, it was clear that Welshman was an extortionist as he repeatedly said during his visit that he would end the entire Trotman issue once he is paid  $5 M.  Yesterday in the presence of other reporters Benschop played a recording of the interview with Welshman.
Welshman could be heard declaring that he would stand next to the Speaker and declare his accusations as false if the Speaker were to “come good” and pay him $5 Million.
According to Benschop, while he does not believe sex assault allegations should be taken lightly, if the police conduct an investigation and find the accusations to be false, they should make that known in a professional manner.
Meanwhile Benschop said that he was contacted by two lawyers, one working from a building which is owned by the Attorney General Anil Nandlall and another who is based overseas.  Benschop said that lawyer’s names were Onasis Granville and Selwyn Pieters.
He said that both Pieters and Granville were offering advice to Welshman in the hope of becoming his lawyer.  Benschop said that after both lawyers realized that Welshman was a “run away” train they said they were no longer accepting the case.
Welshman has now retained the services of Attorney at Law Peter Hugh.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 14th, 2025

 

 

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Milo/Massy U-18 Football semifinals postponed due to inclement weather

Milo/Massy U-18 Football semifinals postponed due to inclement

Apr 18, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- As previously scheduled, the highly anticipated semifinal matchups in the 11th edition of the Milo/Massy Secondary Schools Under-18 Football Championship have been postponed due to...
Read More
Fruta Conqueror-GDF FC to headline Sunday’s Elite League showdown

Fruta Conqueror-GDF FC to headline Sunday’s...

Apr 18, 2025

Affiance surge to 51-run win in NECC/Samaroo Investment T20

Affiance surge to 51-run win in NECC/Samaroo...

Apr 18, 2025

Savory named skipper of Guyana Rainforest Rangers

Savory named skipper of Guyana Rainforest Rangers

Apr 18, 2025

Jamaica ease to 7-wicket win over Guyana in low-scoring affair 

Jamaica ease to 7-wicket win over Guyana in...

Apr 18, 2025

Essequibo Legends record victory in ESCL T20 competition

Essequibo Legends record victory in ESCL T20...

Apr 18, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • A Different Silence

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Good Friday in Guyana is not what it used to be. The day has lost its hush. There was a... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]