Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, was arrested on Monday night over the rape allegations against him.
A statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) noted that an investigation had been launched into the allegations.
“Dharamlall presented himself at the Brickdam Police Station in the company of his attorney, where he was told of the allegation and subsequently arrested. The probe is ongoing,” the GPF said.
The Minister has retained Hughes, Fields & Stoby to represent him and protect his interests amid the allegations. In fact, Dharamlall denied the allegations levelled against him by a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
The Local Government and Regional Development Minister, who was accused last year of harassing a 22-year-old New York-based woman, became the centre of rape allegations on Friday.
A 16-year-old schoolgirl, in a letter to President Irfaal Ali, alleged that she was groomed, preyed upon and sexually assaulted by Dharamlall.
As the news broke, members of society, including the Opposition, called for the Minister to step down to allow for a thorough probe.
On Saturday, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud announced that the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) is carrying out a full probe into the sexual allegations against Minister Dharamlall.
On Sunday, HGP Nightly News was informed that Dharamlall requested to proceed on leave on Friday, and President Irfaan Ali granted it.
