T&T Spinner Charged with Rape

One month after he was detained and then released by the police, Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies cricketer Dave Mohammed has been charged with rape in Grenada.

According to Barry Collymore, co-ordinator of the Shell Cricket Academy of St George?s University, 22-year-old Mohammed was formally charged by the Grenada police Thursday.

Mohammed was one of three players from Trinidad and Tobago who had attended the second programme of the Academy. A media release by the Academy yesterday stated: "This charge has been made further to a police investigation following his detention and release in Grenada last month."

The release further said the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had retained the services of the law office of GED Clyne in Grenada to represent Mohammed.

The player was released on bail of EC$5,000 and was granted permission to return to Trinidad after his graduation on Tuesday. Mohammed is scheduled to return to Grenada for the preliminary inquiry in October.

On June 29, Mohammed had been detained at the South St George Police Station after a complaint had been made against him following an altercation in the wee hours of the morning.

However, the left-arm wrist spinner who plays for local club Powergen Penal Sports in the Division One competition, was eventualy released after the complaint was reportedly dropped. At the time, no reason had been disclosed for Mohammed?s detention and Collymore had declared that it had been a case of the player being "in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Yesterday the Academy said Mohammed had "maintained his innocence."

Asked to comment on the laying of charges against their charge, Collymore declined to comment directly on the matter. "The important thing is Dave?s welfare. That is what we are putting in the forefront, the welfare of our player and his family."

He added: "We are doing all in our power that we can to ensure Dave is comfortable and that he is well represented."

Mohammed, who made his debut for T&T in 2001, has so far played in eight regional matches and taken 26 wickets. He also had the distinction of taking a wicket with his first ball in first-class cricket.

SOURCE: Trinidad Express.