THE police released a statement on Friday declaring that there would be no charges brought against former Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall in connection with a recent rape allegation made against him by a woman.

This decision was made subsequent to the police receiving legal counsel indicating that the evidence was inadequate to pursue the case.
According to a statement from the police, the legal advice highlighted numerous inconsistencies and discrepancies in the virtual complainant’s story. It added that issues undermined the credibility of the allegations, making it difficult to establish a solid case against Dharamlall.

Further complicating the matter, the police noted, were statements from several independent witnesses that completely contradicted the complainant’s account.
Included in these witnesses were individuals who provided alibis, testifying that Dharamlall was located in a separate region during the purported incident in September 2020.
According to the police, this directly challenged the timeline and presence of Dharamlall as asserted by the complainant.

“Statements also disclosed that Nigel Dharamlall is not the owner of the house where the alleged incident occurred…and he has no access to same. These disclosures, among others, resulted in there being insufficient credible evidence and no realistic prospect of conviction in these matters.”

Based on the aforementioned disclosures, it was concluded that there was a lack of credible evidence and no plausible likelihood of obtaining a conviction.

“In keeping with the Code for Prosecutors, a case which does not pass this evidential stage must not proceed, no matter how serious or sensitive it may be,” the statement added.
Last year, Dharamlall was arrested by the police following a similar allegation made by a 16-year-old girl, who later withdrew her accusation against the then minister.

This case has attracted significant attention due to its serious nature and Dharamlall’s high-profile status as an executive member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Dharamlall has consistently and publicly refuted all accusations. In a formal statement, he declared that he had instructed his legal team to thoroughly review the woman’s statements in order to pursue legal action against her and any other individuals involved in spreading false information.