Durban - Senior Durban advocate, Mike Govindasamy, who is on trial for indecent assault and rape, on Tuesday claimed his accuser, a relative, had an “abnormality” that led to her pressing charges against him.
Govindasamy was under cross-examination by prosecutor Dorian Paver in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
“She is not a normal person. I don’t know how her mind works,” he said.
Govindasamy has pleaded not guilty to the charges before Judge Fikile Mokgohloa.
The advocate gave evidence earlier this year claiming the relative, who called him “Daddy Mike”, had made up the stories about the sexual assaults because Govindasamy had threatened to tell her father that she had worked as a “tequila girl” at a Cape Town club.
Govindasamy accused the complainant, who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, of having deep psychological issues and a history of lying.
Paver put it to Govindasamy that he had indeed raped his relative in 2010, because he had got away with sexually assaulting her years before.
“You previously fondled her when she was younger and got away with it, and so you tried your luck a second time.”
Paver also put it to Govindasamy that because he was “the big man” in his family, who commanded a lot of respect, he had taken advantage of his young relative and forced himself on her, as he knew that she would never be believed by his family.
Govindasamy vehemently denied the claims.
“I reject those allegations with all the contempt they deserve.”
He also rejected Paver’s contention that he had colluded with his son - who will be called to testify in his father’s defence – for his son to corroborate his version of events.
“That goes against the moral fibre of my family. My son will come here and tell the truth.”
Govindasamy maintained that at the time of the alleged rape, his two sons had been in the house, metres away from the bedroom.
Paver also accused Govindasamy of going to extreme lengths - domestically and legally – to get his relative to recant her allegations.
He said this included Govindasamy making representations to the office of the director of public prosecutions in an attempt to get them to withdraw the charges.
Govindasamy also hired a private investigator to “dig up dirt” on his relative, who he claimed was a “con-woman and a conniving liar”, Paver said.
The case continues.
Daily News