The Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chambers on Tuesday confirmed that the trial of Muslim scholar, Nezaam Ali who was accused of sexual molesting nine boys between 2011 and 2012 will be heard on March 7, before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court.
He appeared at court and his attorney requested a deferred date. The matter is listed for trial but could not be heard by Sexual Offences Court Judge, Jo Ann Barlow owing to her familiarity with the case from her time at the DPP Chambers.
The sudden announcement follows concerns that the mother of three of the boys who were allegedly molested being offered some $8 Million by an Islamic organization to have the matter settled.
Ali of Lot 268 Section ‘C’ 5 South Turkeyen, was charged in back in 2012 with raping nine boys.
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, abusing a position of trust.
However, after being committed to stand trial in 2013, the matter was stalled since the birth certificates and medicals for the boys had gone missing from each of the nine files.
The parents and relatives of some of the alleged victims have publicly expressed their frustration at the situation. One parent has even claimed that there has been a deliberate attempt to drag out the matter.
In 2017 however, DPP Chambers in a letter had ordered that the case be reopened.
