Former Magistrate, lawyer to form legal to represent school girl allegedly raped by Min. Dharamlall

Jul 04, 2023 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

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Kaieteur News – Former Magistrate Dawn Adrianne Cush and Attorney-at-Law, Darren Wade on Monday pledged to form a legal team seeking justice for a 16-year-old school girl allegedly raped by Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall.

Cush and Wade made the pledge at a protest held at Square of the Revolution by members of the Opposition and citizens, demanding justice for the teen.

Amidst chants of “Dharamlall must go!” Wade said, “I have been speaking to several lawyers and I am being backed by my senior, former Magistrate [Cush] who is here, who is willing to fight. We are going to form a legal team for this young lady [school girl] and press [for justice]”.

Confirming that she will be part of that legal team Wade referenced, Cush told protestors and reporters, “I sent a message to honourable Simona Broomes (who was also at the protest) and I said I will follow you wherever you go and I stand by that too”.

While she made her position known Broomes added, “She (former Magistrate) is following we straight to the court” and Cush said “Yes we are heading to the court”.

The teen made a statement to the police accusing the minister of rape and sodomy. An investigation was done and a case file was sent to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali Hack SC. for legal advice. The DPP has returned the file to investigators and advised that they conduct further investigation into matter.

According to the Police Force, detectives contacted the school girl for further statements but she reportedly told them that she no longer wishes to proceed with matter.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said, “At this time, I am only able to confirm that the alleged victim has given a ‘no further action statement’ to investigators in the presence of one of her parents and a representative from the Child Care Agency. The [file] is currently being prepared to be sent to the DPP for further legal advice.”

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued a statement condemning and cautioning against the peddling of misinformation on social media about what occurred in the case.

It was first stated that no police investigator made contact with the teen on Thursday to conduct any interview after the file was returned by the DPP.

The GPF claimed that it was on Thursday when the girl informed her parents and an officer of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) that she did not want to proceed with this matter any further.

Thereafter, it was stated that the teen girl and her parents then prepared a statement to reflect that she is withdrawing her complaint. Notably, the police said that no investigator was a part of this process. The statement was then delivered to the DPP’s Chambers by a parent of the teen, another copy was then delivered to the Police.

It was explained that only after receipt of that statement did investigators meet with the teen, her parents and an officer from CPA.

“At that time, the Virtual Complainant (alleged victim), in the presence of her parent and the Childcare official, informed the investigators that she was withdrawing her complaint against Minister Nigel Dharamlall and that she was doing so without anyone forcing her to do so and of her own free will,” the Police disclosed.

It was stated too that a video recording was made of the teen expressing her wishes. Notably, the Police underscored that every process of the child withdrawing her allegation was done in the presence of her parents and the CPA officer.

Given this, the police said the next step will be to send back the file to the DPP for legal advice.

The file is to be sent back to the DPP today.

However, Wade at the protest on Monday argued that girl’s accusation of rape and sodomy should be enough to institute a charge against the minister.

“As an attorney-at-law, I must say this to you, all that is required in that statement for Dharamlall to be charged is for that young lady to say he took his penis and put it in a part of me without my consent. And let me say this as a lawyer as well, there is no consent for buggery. These are the laws so I do not understand and I cannot appreciate why the file went back to the police,” Wade said.

The lawyer promised that he will not rest until the school girl gets justice and made it clear that as soon as she is released from protective custody “the real fight” begins.

“So Dharamlall, there is no easy thing for you sir is best yuh face it now or later because we are coming any way”, the lawyer stressed.

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• Dawn Adrianne Cush, Dharamlall, protest, rape, school girl

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