Police probing cabinet minister on allegations of assault

Sacha Singh (Guadian photo)

Police are investigating a complaint of alleged abuse involving Tourism Minister Chandresh Sharma and Sacha Singh, the managing director of AMS Biotech Security Concept and AmSure T&T Ltd.

Media reports say that on Friday the woman made a report about the alleged incident to officers of St Joseph Police Station. The allegation is that Sharma abused her and she suffered a mild concussion as a result of a fall during the incident at Grand Bazaar.

Both the Guardian and Express newspapers gave details of the alleged incident, which they said happened on March 12. Singh gave the details on a national radio show on Thursday night.

The Guardian said ASP Joanne Archie, public information officer of the T&T Police Service, confirmed that police are conducting an investigation against Sharma."Archie said “a charge or charges” may be laid after the investigation," the paper reported.

Chandresh Sharma and Sacha Singh (Express photo)

The Express said it spoke with Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams who confirmed the investigation against Sharma. "The matter involving Minister Chandresh Sharma is a straight-forward and simple investigation. There is nothing in law which requires you must consult the DPP to prosecute a minister or someone else," the Express quoted Williams as saying.

The police chief told the paper, "So it’s just a matter of completing the investigation and then making a determination on whether the evidence is crystal clear, adding that if there is sufficient evidence then the next step will involve “proceeding to prosecute” or if advice is needed, the DPP will be sought.