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St. Vincent prime minister denies raping police officer
Real estate news By Malaysia Star
Saturday February 2, 2008
The prime minister of St. Vincent denied allegations Friday that he raped a police officer who guards his home on this Caribbean island. Ralph Gonsalves dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and vowed to defend himself, even as St. Vincent's top opposition leader called on him to resign. "I categorically deny these allegations,'' he said. "They are false and malicious.'' Gonsalves, who has held office since 2001, added that he would not "give in to the politics of personal destruction.''
An attorney for the 36-year-old police officer filed a private complaint on Thursday alleging that Gonsalves assaulted and raped her at his home on Jan. 3. The officer's attorneys did not return calls for comment Friday. The Associated Press does not normally identify people who may have been victims of sexual assault.
Attorneys in the former British colony can file private criminal complaints without police approval, which can be heard in court or dismissed by the director of public prosecution. The director could not be reached for comment Friday. It was not clear why police had not filed a complaint in the case. The police commissioner's secretary said he would not comment.
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