Sexual Harassment Case charges Male Employee with Groping female Co-worker at Ritz Carlton Resort

By Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#Turksandcaicos, June 22, 2023 – Wednesday 07th June 2023 in the Magistrate’s Court Providenciales before His Hon Mr Jolyon Hatmin, a sexual assault that allegedly occurred in December 2022; the trial begun against an Indian male GYANARANJAN SINGH and a Turks Island Bahamian young lady Miss  J.D. Ferguson.

Representing the crown/the office of the DPP was Miss. Enjaleek Dickenson and Mr. Ashwood Forbes for the defendant.

The pace of the trial had to be relatively slower due to a Hindi interpreter for the defendant’s understanding.  He was tasked with orally translating the Hindi language into English language and the English language into the Hindi language throughout the entire, hours’ long proceedings.

The young lady appeared confident and strong when she took the witness box to testify against her alleged attacker. Her evidence to the court was that Mr. Singh, who she clearly identified in court and said he groped/grabbed her buttocks and pushed his hand in an upward direction.

She described the area that this happened was in a small approximately 15 by 3 ft  cooler or chiller, but at the door area at one of the Ritz Carlton Resort kitchen areas.  She explained that the door was being held open by a trolley that she pushed there.

The young lady told the court she immediately turned around and snatched or grabbed Mr. Singh and told him to stop.  He said sorry he was just playing.  She then grabbed his shirt as she was taking him to HR and told him “you know better.”

He then put his two hands around her and had her in a bear-hug preventing her from moving.

He kept saying “no” “sorry” “mistake” repeatedly.

“I told him to let me go and eventually he let me go when the security came and told him to let me go.  He then hold my hands as he didn’t want me to go and make a report”.

The young lady further told the court that she came upon another employee of the same nationality as Mr. Singh and she asked him to make a call.  He was going to allow her the call but Mr. Singh told him something in their native language and he then stopped from allowing her to make the call.  She then became frustrated and made a loud outburst and then she got attention and was able to make her report.

The court was also shown a CCTV footage that only lasted a few seconds with what appeared to be Mr. Singh trying to hold on to Miss. Ferguson as she’s trying to get away.

The trial continues and Magnetic Media will bring you the cross-examination and the conclusion of the trial in a subsequent news report.

The case adjourned part-heard until July 28th 2023.