Department of Immigration Finds Rape Allegations of Migrant “of No Substance”

The Department of Immigration has closed investigations into rape allegations of a migrant who was detained at a department safe house and has found the claims baseless.

In a press statement, the department said it has “determined that there is no substance to the allegation.”

Why it matters

A local daily reported a sister of the woman claiming the migrant from Paramaribo, Suriname was sexually assaulted at the facility by a male immigration officer.

The sister who spoke to reporters while outside of the Bahamas admitted that much was unknown surrounding the alleged sexual attack on her sister.

The alleged rape victim who remains unidentified, served a three-year sentence for an immigration violation. But she was believed to have been transferred to the Detention Center after her sentence came to an end last August.

What the Department of Immigration says

The statement released by the immigration department said the matter was investigated by the newly appointed Assistant Director of Immigration with responsibility for Corruption, Complaints, and Intelligence and assisted by officers of the Sexual Offences Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

“…the female migrant, the subject of the alleged inappropriate conduct, has made no complaint of, and denies the occurrence of any inappropriate conduct.

“Further, the female insists on her immediate repatriation.

“The matter is closed.

“There shall be no further comment from the department.”