DIRECTOR of Prisons Welton Trotz was on Thursday slapped with a charge of sexual assault and was granted $100,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Fabio Azore.The head of Guyana’s prison service was not represented by an attorney during his first court appearance, but reporters were blocked from entering the courtroom as the matter was held in-camera.
Trotz was the recipient of the Disciplined Services Medal at the investiture ceremony at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) earlier this month.
The sexual assault accused had the charges read to him following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, whose chambers had been engaged in the matter for some time now.
According to reports, a junior rank has alleged that sexual advances were made to her by Trotz and despite her resistance he persisted.
The matter was reported to the then Ministry of Home Affairs, according to one report in another section of the media.
However, speaking with reporters after his bail was posted yesterday afternoon, Trotz said that he was going to fight the charge since he is confident that it is trumped up and has no merit, and aimed at staining his character. Trotz yesterday afternoon also confirmed that he was stepping down from office until the matter is over. He also confirmed that he did have a discussion with the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and that the discussion pertained to the procedures.
“I will be handing over immediately,” Trotz told the media outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on yesterday afternoon.