DPP: Decision soon in Sharma assault case

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard said yesterday a decision in the criminal investigation against Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma was imminent. Sharma has been at the centre of an assault probe by the police after complaints were made by his one-time companion, businesswoman Sacha Singh. In a telephone interview, Gaspard was asked about the situation following certain social media claims in circulation last Sunday that “the DPP’s office” had indicated Sharma “has no case to answer” regarding the alleged altercation. The social media reports also noted rumours Sharma and Singh were “on-again, off-again lovebirds” and were now “back together.” Yesterday Gaspard said no decision was yet made but he added that one would be made on the matter “very, very soon.” Several months ago, Singh, managing director of AMS Biotech Security Concepts, of Piarco Plaza, had filed a complaint with St Joseph police alleging Sharma hit her while they were seated in a car at Grand Bazaar, Valsayn, on March 12. The incident was witnessed by schoolteacher Geeta Maharaj, who was also in the car with a child. Sharma resigned as Tourism Minister when the issue came to light and since then has occupied a back bench seat in Parliament. Singh had said a woman and a child were in the back seat of her car and Singh had asked Sharma about maintaining the child. She claimed the woman and Sharma subsequently argued and there was a scuffle during which Sharma urged the woman to stop hitting a ”Brahmin boy”. Singh claimed she was subsequently hit and pushed when she held on to Sharma’s tie. She gave a statement to police on it as did the child’s mother and Sharma. Singh said then she was pressing charges. Yesterday Singh said she had no intention of dropping the charges and dismissed what she termed “dirty tricks” being perpetrated against her on Facebook and other social media sites insinuating that she and Sharma were back together. She said: “That is definitely untrue. I do not see him. One amicable conversation we had, which had nothing to do with any appeals, does not constitute a reconciliation. “I have spoken to my lawyer today about the rumour-mongering on social media that is going on and they have also spoken to the DPP on the status of the issue before him. They have learnt investigations are still on-going. “My legal advice is that people may be spreading false rumours that Sharma and I are back together again to perpetuate the view that there is no case and I have dropped the matter. “But I haven’t dropped anything. People have also been asking me if he and I were in Miami last week. I was in Miami but not with him. I want to make that clear.” Singh said the altercation occurred after the mother of the child in the car with her had come to her appealing for help since it seemed she was in good standing with Sharma. She said the child involved in that particular issue was 12 years old. “The DPP has sufficient evidence from me. Why would I subject myself to public scrutiny if the situation wasn’t true. However, I await word, and no, I am never going back.” Contacted yesterday, Sharma said he was in a meeting.