By Crystal Stoll

THE rape charge against leader of the Justice for All Party (JFAP), Chandra Narine Sharma has been dismissed after the victim refused to testify against him in the High Court on Tuesday.Sharma was committed to stand trial in the High Court three years ago and the case was dismissed by Justice James Bovell-Drakes when the October session of the Demerara Assizes began Tuesday. He was charged with two counts of carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years, three counts of carnal knowledge of a girl under 12 years, and one count of indecent assault. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Sharma maintained his innocence and expressed relief, noting that the matter has been ongoing for some six years now. “I feel good because the matter has been dismissed; I am innocent,” he said.

He said he was unaware that the case would have engaged the court’s attention this week.

“Is the DPP put forward for the case to be dismissed. I was informed through Jaipaul from someone at the court system. We were very surprised. Usually they would send a notice a week before the hearing, but this year no notice didn’t come,” the politician said.

The rape allegations
In a sworn affidavit, the victim alleged that Sharma sexually molested her and her sisters (who were at the time nine and five years old respectively), with the consent of their mother. The girl said the abuse stopped only when she refused to return to her mother’s home. The girl claimed that she would receive $2000 weekly from Sharma.

The JFAP leader was remanded to prison by then Chief Magistrate Melissa Ogle-Robertson in 2010, when he made his first appearance. The case was said to be very dramatic, since Sharma had collapsed in front of media cameras as he made his way out of the prisoners’ chute. As a result, he was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he regained consciousness. Sharma was later granted bail in the sum of $2 million.

Consequently, after a Preliminary Inquiry (PI), Sharma was committed to stand trial back in May 2013, after the presiding Magistrate Sueanna Lovell found that a prima facie case had been made out against the popular television owner.

Medical complications

Sharma, who became popular through his television programmes which gave a voice to the poor, said he has been unable to host the programme for quite some time due to his medical issues.
He said he has suffered three strokes and as a result he cannot deliver as before. “I have a speech problem, I had three strokes, two head strokes, my memory completely gone,” said Sharma. He hopes to appear on this Saturday’s ‘Voice of the People’ programme.