Athletes aren't superior beings. They aren't made of plastic and can rub off any trouble that they might find themselves in. They are humans just like you and I. The only difference is that they found fame in their respective field of play. Due to the lack of invincibility, they can be sent to jail to do hard time. A latest example would be that of West Indies rising star, Shamar Joseph.
In a shocking development coming from the Caribbean, West Indies newest pace sensation, Shamar Joseph, who rose to the limelight following his Gabba heroics last year, is accused of rape, sexual assault, harassment and unwanted advances by at least 11 women, including his teen cousin, per a 27 June report by Kaieteur News in Guyana.
Shamar Joseph is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct, including rape and inappropriate behaviour, as claimed in a report by Kaieteur News.
11 women, including a teenager, have come forward with accusations against the 25-year-old Guyanese cricketer. One of the victims has gone on to reveal that the cricketer even tried to bribe her to settle the matter. However, the family was firm to refuse and sought justice.
Part of the ongoing Test series against Australia at home, Joseph returned with nine wickets in the just-concluded Barbados Test, which the hosts lost by 159 runs. Although he made headlines for bowling rockets against his favourite opponents, Joseph’s name getting dragged into such accusations has rocked his brief cricket career.
As per the report, also carried out by several publications in India and worldwide, one of the victims, an 18-year-old, accused the fast bowler of assaulting her on 3 March 2023, at a residence in New Amsterdam, Berbice; when she was 18.
In an interview with Kaieteur News, the victim’s mother said her daughter had informed her she was going out with Joseph and would return by a specific time.
According to family accounts, Shamar picked her up under the guise of ‘socialising’ and brought her to a house filled with others. Although she felt safe initially, Shamar allegedly led her upstairs and raped her forcibly. The family has also accused Joseph’s entourage and Guyanese law enforcement of trying to suppress the case.
"She trusted him," the mother said, recounting that her daughter had seen several people at the house, which initially made her feel safe. However, things reportedly took a turn when Joseph allegedly lured her upstairs, where the assault allegedly occurred.
Reports suggest that the investigation process has taken a toll on the alleged victim. According to Kaieteur News, repeated questioning by officers from the Guyana Police Force proved emotionally draining for her, leading to her walking out of an interview midway. She has since been hospitalised and remains under medical care, her condition described as serious.
The case has reportedly caused concern among rights advocates and has led to increased scrutiny of how sexual assault investigations are handled in Guyana, especially those involving high-profile individuals.
Meanwhile, after the news broke out, more women came forward, producing proof, including: screenshots; voice notes; medical filings and even text messages; claiming repeated assaults and attempts at covering this matter up. One victim even revealed that Shamar offered money to settle the matter, but the family refused it, saying, "We don’t want money. I want justice for what he did to my daughter."
However, none of these allegations has yet resulted in formal charges against the West Indies seamer.
Lawyer, Nigel Hughes, representing one of the complainants, told SportsMax TV that initial complaints were made some two years ago, around early 2023, further saying that those allegations led to an investigation, with the prosecutors recommending charges be filed only for the matter to disperse from the public eye.
Meanwhile, the report also claims that the fast bowler was also arrested on a sexual assault charge of a teen relative under the age of consent. The victim withdrew her statement while the case was closed; the charges were not pressed.
Moreover, these allegations were made public during West Indies’ first Test against Australia, adding pressure on Cricket West Indies (CWI) to take action. CWI’s official statement read, "Cricket West Indies is unaware of the circumstances and, therefore, is not in a position to comment at this time."
Grenada will host the second Test starting on Thursday (3 July).
It's an absolute tradegy when a rising star is accused of such a heinous crime. However, if the evidence mentioned above bares accurate information; then Joseph should be punished. Actions like these is never okay, regardless of the status of the perpetrator/s. Despite various other athletes being behind bars for the same/similar crimes, others still do it.
If this case proves anything, it's that, "hush money" can't always be bought. For some, it might but most want some form of action to be done. Just like the aforementioned victim, most want their day in court.