Guyanese political power broker accused of sexual assault by another woman

A powerful politician in Guyana has been accused of sexual assault the second time in less than year, following his resignation last July over separate allegations.

A powerful politician in Guyana has been accused of sexual assault for the second time in less than a year, following his resignation last July over separate allegations. The accuser, economist Sarah Aneesah Hakh, told an online press conference held in the capital Georgetown that former Minister Nigel Dharamlall sexually assaulted her in 2020 and 2021. Hakh said the first alleged incident occurred during a business meeting when Dharamlall was Guyana’s senior minister of regional development. “The fact that he is still in that party is mind boggling to me,” Hakh said. Dharamlall, a Guyanese politician seen as a power broker in the country, was recently appointed to the executive committee of Guyana’s ruling People’s Progressive Party. He has been photographed recently with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Dharamlall rejected the allegations in a statement posted on his Facebook page, saying “I wish to categorically and most vehemently deny each and every one of the allegations made.” He accused Hakh of being on a “campaign to tarnish my reputation,” claiming that “her demeanor towards me changed fundamentally after I rebuffed her advances and spurned her attempts to engage in an intimate relationship.” CNN has reached out to Dharamlall for comment and has contacted the office of Guyana President Irfaan Ali.