Assistant Police Commissioner Reginald Ferguson said Thursday that Works Minister Bradley Roberts was being investigated in connection with a reported rape.
He denied that the probe was being delayed to protect the Grants Town Member of Parliament.
However, in a statement to The Guardian steadfastly denying any such occurrence, Mr Roberts said that police had not questioned him up to that point, although he was “prepared to cooperate” with them on “these baseless and false allegations.”
The bi-weekly tabloid, The Punch, on Thursday named Mr Roberts after stories circulated last week that a woman had been raped by a prominent politician.
“It is the evidence that is unearthed by the investigation that will determine how we choose to proceed,” ASP Ferguson told the Guardian in a telephone interview.
Complaint filed on Dec. 5
Attorney Wallace Rolle, lawyer for the 47-year-old Bahamian woman claiming that the incident took place in her home on December 4, said that although she made a formal complaint to the Sexual Offences Unit the following day, to his knowledge, after three weeks, Mr Roberts had not been questioned.
“No matter who a person is, when an allegation is made they should be interrogated,” said Mr Rolle, maintaining that Mr Roberts was being protected because of his political status. “Police are afraid to pick him up, like they would me or you,” he said.
Police have also failed to question members of the woman’s family, who were at home during the time of the alleged rape, Mr Rolle told The Guardian.
He said that the woman was “disappointed in the progress of the investigation. This is only an allegation, but a police investigation is the rule of law,” he added.
Responding to the lawyer’s comments, Asst Commissioner Ferguson said, “No attorney in the world can say whether we are doing an investigation.”
He neither confirmed nor denied whether Mr Roberts or any potential witnesses had been interrogated, as such comment would not be consistent with established police directives, he said.
DPM has confidence in police
Speaking with The Guardian, Minister of National Security Cynthia Pratt, who has responsibility for police, said she had every confidence the matter would be investigated thoroughly.
She said that the Police Commissioner was the final authority in any criminal investigation and would not give Mr Roberts or any other person preferential treatment.
“If there is a matter, police will investigate,” she stated.
Text of statement
Reading a prepared statement to The Guardian via telephone, Mr Roberts said, “The Punch story of today’s date (Thursday December 23, 2004) is untrue and I am offended by the absurdity of the allegation and categorically deny that such an act took place.
“The matter has been turned over to my attorney. I am prepared to cooperate with police on these baseless and false allegations.”
He acknowledged that police had not questioned him concerning the matter.
According to Mr Wallace, if police continue to “drag their feet with the investigation,” he will take take steps to pursue the matter privately.
By Raymond Kongwa, The Nassau Guardian
