Second Accusation of Sexual Assault Against Guyanese Political Figure Emerges
Nigel Dharamlall faces another sexual assault accusation within a year, marking the second incident since his resignation in July due to previous allegations.
A powerful politician in Guyana faces accusations of sexual assault for the second time within a year. The politician had previously resigned in July due to separate allegations.
Economist Sarah Aneesah Hakh, the accuser, shared during an online press conference in Georgetown that former Minister Nigel Dharamlall sexually assaulted her in both 2020 and 2021. The first alleged incident took place during a business meeting while Dharamlall held the position of Guyana’s senior minister of regional development.
It's unbelievable to me that he is still a member of that party,” Hakh expressed.
Dharamlall, a influential Guyanese politician, has been appointed to the executive committee of Guyana’s ruling People’s Progressive Party. He has been seen in photos with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Dharamlall denied all allegations in a statement on his Facebook page, stating, "I want to strongly deny each and every one of the accusations." He accused Hakh of trying to damage his reputation, alleging that her attitude towards him changed after he rejected her advances and turned down her attempts at a romantic relationship.
CNN has contacted Dharamlall for a response and reached out to the office of Guyana President Irfaan Ali.
Dharamlall stepped down from his positions in Guyana's cabinet and parliament last year following an accusation of rape by an indigenous teenage girl, which he has denied.
The girl later retracted her claim, as confirmed by officials, and no legal charges were brought against Dharamlall. President Ali addressed the situation in a video statement last July, stating that his government did not interfere in the case and allowed the legal process to unfold without intervention.
Some people viewed her resignation as a signal of government corruption, suspecting that her family had received money.
In March, the women's rights organization Red Thread from Guyana expressed disappointment with officials for not supporting the accuser.
The concern is that the public nature of the complaint, the suspect's influential political status, the early closure of the case, and the quick end to the investigation will make people feel like there is no accountability. This may also discourage other victims of sexual violence from speaking out.
One victim expressed feeling violated against their will.
Hakh, a promising figure in Guyana, revealed that she was first assaulted by Dharamlall during a meeting in September 2020. The meeting was supposed to be about her potential role as a regional executive officer. She recounted that Dharamlall took her into his bedroom at the Anna Regina State House, a town on the country's coast. There, he undressed and forcibly engaged in oral sex without her consent.
During a press conference on Friday, Hakh shared that she repeatedly asked Dharamlall to stop. She emphasized that she is a lesbian and did not expect or consent to such actions. Hakh made it clear that this experience was not something she anticipated or could offer.
"I was taken advantage of by a man who manipulated me into a difficult situation because of my upcoming contract with the ministry," she shared.
Aerial view of the Essequibo region taken from Guyana on December 12, 2023. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his Guyanese counterpart, Irfaan Ali, will meet on December 14, 2023 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on their countries' growing dispute over the oil-rich region of Essequibo, amid mounting international warnings against escalating the row. (Photo by Roberto CISNEROS / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO CISNEROS/AFP via Getty Images)
Aerial view of the Essequibo region was captured from Guyana on December 12, 2023. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali are scheduled to meet on December 14, 2023 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The meeting will focus on their countries' ongoing dispute over the oil-rich region of Essequibo. The international community has been issuing warnings against further escalating the tensions between the two nations. The photo was taken by Roberto Cisneros and published by AFP/Getty Images.
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Hakh claimed that in 2021, she had another disturbing encounter with Dharamlall in the Cummings Lodge neighborhood near Georgetown. She had gone to meet him to discuss her issues with the ministry of local government, but during the meeting, she alleged that Dharamlall attempted to undress her.
When asked why she didn't report the incidents to the police in 2020 or 2021, Hakh explained that she was afraid of police corruption and feared facing public shame and backlash from her own family, who had business dealings with Dharamlall.
"I realized I was facing something risky, so my plan was to be proactive. If my initial report didn't lead to any action, I knew I would lose credibility," she mentioned during the press conference on Friday. She went on to share that she eventually filed a police report on May 9.
Additionally, Hakh lodged cyberbullying charges against Dharamlall on May 8. CNN has reached out to the Guyanese police for their response.
Hakh said she decided to go public with her allegation because “I need to give victims the strength to know that they’re not alone, and that there is no shame in what happened to them.”
Editor's P/S:
It is disheartening
