ODDP rules on hotel incident involving tourist

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODDP) has ruled that no criminal proceedings can commence into an alleged incident involving two tourists at an all-inclusive resort in Negril in July of this year that was reported to the Negril Police.

Reports are that on July 5, a South African national residing in the United States of America, who was visiting the island with her employers, made a report to the Negril Police about an alleged incident involving another guest who was also a foreign national at the resort.

The woman's employers reportedly noticed marks on her neck and reported the matter to the police. The woman reported that she had a drink with a man and subsequently woke up and found herself sitting in a shower on the property.

Investigators from the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) conducted a probe into the matter. Closed circuit television surveillance footage was also collected and analysed. Statements were collected by the investigators and the completed file was submitted to the ODPP for a ruling.

The ODPP's ruling indicated that the complainant did not outline in her statement that she was assaulted. The toxicology report did not reveal anything of note. The ODDP ruled that the theory of the complainant being drugged was not sustainable. Hence, the ODDP has indicated that these factors combined would defeat any possible prosecutions.

On the basis of the ruling, the investigation was suspended pending any new evidence that may arise.