The defence put forward a conspiracy theory yesterday when three counsellors from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) were charged with sexually abusing a young woman while she was an inmate at the institution.

Astell Melville, Cromwell Mentis and Hutton Christian, all employees of the government-run NOC appeared before Acting Chief Magis-trate Cecil Sullivan on the indictable charge of having carnal knowledge of a girl without her consent.

They were not required to plead but were each granted $100,000 bail, following an application by attorney-at-law Joseph Harmon.

Particulars of the offence read that between August 1, 2004 and January 31, 2005, the three men committed the acts on the girl, now a former inmate at the institution. It was also alleged that they gang-raped her during her stay. She made a report to the authorities after leaving the institution.

After the allegations of sexual misconduct at the correctional facility on the Essequibo Coast were made, President Bharrat Jagdeo ordered an immediate investigation.

Several persons were questioned in connection with the matter and the counsellors were charged yesterday.

But Harmon who represented all three men raised the issue of a conspiracy in court yesterday, stating that the story was hatched to damage the reputation of the counsellors, who among themselves have given more than 55 years of service at NOC. Harmon told the court that before his clients learned that they were to be charged, information was published in a daily newspaper detailing what was going to happen. He argued that this too was part of the conspiracy.

According to him, the prosecution will have to prove that the allegations against the men were not a figment of the virtual complainant's imagination. Harmon said he learnt that the young girl was visited by Minister in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira while she was at NOC but she never made any claims of being molested to them.

He said the girl had visits from top NOC officials as well as her lawyers who had represented her in matters in the High Court and not one of these people was told that she was being abused.

He said the girl also had an opportunity to appear before Justice B.S Roy at the High Court during the time that she was allegedly being abused but again no complaint was made.

Harmon said that from the time the allegations were published, his clients had been tried and committed in some sections of the media. He said there was much public perception, created as a result of media reports, about the accused counsellors.

According to the defence attorney, the men have suffered great indignity because of what has been reported even before being charged and placed before the court.

In addition, counsel added that his clients were not a flight risk. He said they had been cooperating with the police from day one, adding that they had an interest in protecting the years of service they had with the state. He said the men were still employed at NOC.

Court Prosecutor Kevin Adonis said he had no objection to bail being granted, but he asked for a substantial sum given the circumstances. Adonis said the accused were placed at the institution to look over the young girl so allegations of sexual abuse should be taken very seriously.

Initially, the magistrate set bail at $500,000 each but reduced it after Harmon argued that such a high sum amounted to no bail.

The hearing is set to continue on July 11 at the Suddie Magistrate's Court.