South African Judge Charged With Rape

A senior South African judge attending an anti-globalisation conference in India was yesterday charged with raping another delegate following debates about human rights and gender equality.

Seeraj Desai, 53, a human rights specialist and leading member of the Cape high court, was remanded in jail in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) until Friday while detectives investigate the claim he raped a 27-year-old South African Aids activist.

Mr Desai denied the claim and said he was confident of vindication.

The incident is alleged to have happened at 3am last Sunday when Salome Isaacs went to the judge's room at the Taj President Hotel in the upmarket Cuff Parade area of Mumbai.

"They apparently know each other and went in a group to a nightclub after which he invited her to his room," said Ahmed Javed, Mumbai's joint police chief.

According to interviews she gave to South African media, in which she granted permission for her name to be used, Mrs Isaacs wanted to discuss the conference with Mr Desai, but they started kissing.

"There was a lot of kissing and holding and there was a point where I wanted him to back off but he continued. There was a definite 'no'. The result was that there was sex without consent," Mrs Isaacs said.

Her husband, Mark, also an Aids activist but who did not attend the conference, told a radio programme he phoned Mr Desai from South Africa hours after the alleged attack to demand an apology but was told there was nothing to forgive.

Mumbai police reportedly said both had been medically examined to establish sexual contact and that a used condom, found in the judge's room, was being examined.

When reached by the South African daily ThisDay on his mobile phone, Mr Desai sounded in high spirits. "I am very optimistic. I will wait for my day in court to vindicate my innocence." His lawyer, CS Irani, claimed the alleged rape was a fabricated story.

Before being led to jail Mr Desai, from Cape Town, was allowed to have breakfast and a shower at his hotel.

Of Indian descent, he is well known in South Africa for presiding over high profile cases involving leading politicians and businessmen.

Mr Desai was one of 100,000 participants from 130 countries at the World Social Forum event. He was representing the Foundation for Human Rights, which partly funded the delegation's trip.

Yasmin Sooka, the foundation's director, said: "This is an incredibly difficult experience for the foundation. There is simply no precedent on how to handle a case such as this.

"We are trying to be fair to both parties."