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London ‘slavery’ case: CPS charges Aravindan Balakrishnan London ‘slavery’ case: CPS charges Aravindan Balakrishnan
(35 minutes later)
A Maoist activist accused of keeping three women in domestic servitude for 30 years has been charged with 25 offences including rape and child cruelty.A Maoist activist accused of keeping three women in domestic servitude for 30 years has been charged with 25 offences including rape and child cruelty.
Aravindan Balakrishnan is accused of imprisoning the women in a house in south London between 1983 and 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service said.Aravindan Balakrishnan is accused of imprisoning the women in a house in south London between 1983 and 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
Aravindan Balakrishnan, who allegedly kept the women in a house in south London for more than 30 years, is facing 25 charges including false imprisonment and rape.
He is also accused of cruelty to a person under 16 years and indecent assault, the CPS said.He is also accused of cruelty to a person under 16 years and indecent assault, the CPS said.
Balakrishnan, 73, was arrested along with his wife, Chanda Pattni, 67, in November last year over allegations that they had held three women against their will for more than 30 years at a house in Brixton.Balakrishnan, 73, was arrested along with his wife, Chanda Pattni, 67, in November last year over allegations that they had held three women against their will for more than 30 years at a house in Brixton.
Pattni was released with no further action earlier this year when prosecutors decided there was “insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction”.Pattni was released with no further action earlier this year when prosecutors decided there was “insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Balakrishnan is due to appear before Westminster magistrates court in London on 17 December.Scotland Yard said Balakrishnan faces 19 counts of indecent assault and four rape charges spanning from 1980 to 1987.Balakrishnan is due to appear before Westminster magistrates court in London on 17 December.Scotland Yard said Balakrishnan faces 19 counts of indecent assault and four rape charges spanning from 1980 to 1987.
He is also accused of “unlawfully and injuriously imprisoning” a woman between 6 January 1983 and 7 January 1999.He is also accused of “unlawfully and injuriously imprisoning” a woman between 6 January 1983 and 7 January 1999.
The child cruelty charge, which spans from 6 January 1983 and 7 January 1999, states that Balakrishnan allegedly “wilfully ill-treated, assaulted, and neglected the said child, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering to the said child or injury to its health”.The child cruelty charge, which spans from 6 January 1983 and 7 January 1999, states that Balakrishnan allegedly “wilfully ill-treated, assaulted, and neglected the said child, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering to the said child or injury to its health”.
Anthony Connell, senior prosecutor at the CPS said: “The CPS has today authorised the police to charge Aravindan Balakrishnan on a number of counts including false imprisonment, cruelty to a person under 16 years, indecent assault and rape.Anthony Connell, senior prosecutor at the CPS said: “The CPS has today authorised the police to charge Aravindan Balakrishnan on a number of counts including false imprisonment, cruelty to a person under 16 years, indecent assault and rape.
“After careful consideration we have decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.“After careful consideration we have decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.
“May I remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant have been commenced and of his right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.“May I remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant have been commenced and of his right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
“Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.”“Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.”