Derek Achong
Former Public Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke has been committed to stand trial for a set of criminal charges related to the alleged rape and indecent assault of a former subordinate.
The former Tobago House of Assembly (THA) deputy chief secretary was committed by Magistrate Marisa Gomez at the end of his preliminary inquiry on Tuesday.
Duke was granted $250,000 bail to cover all the charges, which he accessed immediately after the hearing.
He will now have to await a trial in the High Court which can take well over five years considering the current backlog of cases in the criminal justice system.
Duke is accused of allegedly committing acts of serious indecency against a woman, a then employee of the union, on four occasions between January and April 2016 at the union’s headquarters in Port-of-Spain. He is also accused of having sexual intercourse with the woman against her will on May 10, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Duke has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Duke was represented by Gilbert Peterson, SC, and John Heath, SC, while Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Danielle Thompson represented the State.