–says mother of boys allegedly molested by Muslim scholar

THE mother of the four boys who were allegedly sexually molested by Muslim scholar, Neezam Ali, is seeking justice and is calling on the relevant authorities to hear her cries as she believes deliberate attempts are being made to sweep the case under the carpet.

Ali, also known as ‘Mufti’, an Imam of Lot Section ‘C 5’ South, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, was committed to stand trial in the High Court on nine counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with nine boys under the age of 12, back in 2012.
The charges alleged that between December 2011 and January 2012, Ali, being a teacher attached to the Turkeyen Masjid, engaged in sexual activity with the children. He was placed on a total of $1.3M bail at the time.

The acts were allegedly committed while Ali was in a position of trust, being a religious teacher, and knew or could be reasonably expected to have known of the trust in relation to the boys. The boys had been attending Arabic and Koran classes at the time.
Following a preliminary hearing at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Alex Moore, Ali was committed to stand trial at the High Court. But his attorney, Nigel Hughes, had challenged the paper committal on several grounds.

The matter was subsequently sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, and was later reopened before Magistrate Moore.

On Friday morning, when the matter was scheduled to be called at the Sparendaam Court, Magistrate Moore failed to make an appearance, causing another adjournment and further frustrating the families of the victims.
The prosecutor, Hattie Alexander, explained that the file in the matter is complete, and ready to be heard.

The mother of four of the teens told the Guyana Chronicle that while she is tired of the back-and-forth regarding the matter, she will not give up.
According to the woman, she was offered an $8M bribe by members of the Muslim community to “hush-up” the matter, but she noted that she will not accept anything but justice for her children.

She said, too, that she will continue to seek an audience with the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General, Basil Williams and the higher authorities on the matter.

She said she visited the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but was chased out of the building by an official.
She explained that the defendant, who is on bail, has taken to tormenting her at least twice daily by passing by her home in Sophia, slowing down and smiling knowingly at her.
The woman said that on one occasion, Ali, along with another man, stood in front of her home and took pictures of the house and children.
The matters were all reported to the Turkeyen Police Station, she said.