Johnny Welshman speaks to members of the media.
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Johnny Welshman is alleging that he was offered a $3M settlement in his sex allegations against Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, but only if he makes a public statement that the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) asked him to make the allegations.
This is according to a statement issued by Welshman’s Attorney, Peter Hugh, whose services were retained on October 02 by Welshman.
“I am informed by my client that despite the filing of the libel suit and a matter being investigated by the Guyana Police Force Mr. Johnny Weshman has been approached with offers of settlement in the sum of three (3) million Guyana Dollars on the condition that he makes a public statement that the PPP/C asked him to make these allegations. When he refused to accept any settlement or to lie and say that the PPP/C asked him to do anything, his life was threatened,” the statement from Hugh noted.
The 22 – year – old man is alleging that Trotman had raped him when he was 12 – years – old, an allegation that the Speaker has continuously denied.
According to Hugh, the most recent threat upon his client’s life has been reported to the police.
“I am of the firm belief that no victim of any alleged sexual violence should be intimidated, threatened, vilified, degraded or humiliated in an effort to silence them,” the Lawyer noted.
Hugh, in his statement, pointed out that although an Interim Injunction was granted restraining Welshman from publishing any material relating and or pertaining to allegations, Trotman continues to speak about it in the press.
According to Hugh, there seems to be tactical accusations of grand conspiracy theories implicating Welshman in a plot by a political group to bring into disrepute the character and reputation of Trotman by publishing accusations in the print media and on a social network.
![Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman. [iNews' Photo]](http://www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Trotman.jpg)
Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman. [iNews' Photo]
“For the record, my client is not affiliated with any political party and I believe the assertions and claims that Mr. Johnny Welshman is politically motivated are meant solely as a distraction from the very serious allegations made by Mr. Welshman. The fact that these assertions of political motivation by Mr. Raphael Trotman are being made before the Police investigation is completed, can only be viewed as an attempt to intimidate Mr. Johnny Welshman and discredit him as having some motive for reporting the matter to the Police,” Hugh said in his statement.
He noted that since the granting of the Interim Injunction, Trotman has gone on the offensive in the media and has been “openly attacking and attempting to discredit Mr. Johnny Welshman.”
The Lawyer believes that his client should be offered protection, similar to any other victim of an alleged sexual assault, pending the outcome of the criminal investigations.
