Attorney says NCB executive accused of rape must be judged in court, not public arena

The attorney for a National Commercial Bank (NCB) executive facing rape charges has cautioned that the right of an accused person to have their case ventilated in a court of law and not the court of public opinion must be respected.

Dane Nicholson, head of NCB’s fraud prevention division, has been charged with six counts of rape and two counts of grievous sexual assault.

It’s reported that the complainant is a female NCB employee.

Peter Champagnie, K.C., the attorney representing Nicholson, said the case is a timely reminder of why certain matters are “strictly in camera”.

“That is to say restricted in terms of public information and discourse before their final determination,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Champagnie indicated that he respects the ideals of freedom of information, but said, equally, the right of an accused person to have their day in court must be respected.

“The presumption of innocence is sacrosanct,” he said.

Champagnie said Nicholson’s case is “exacerbated” by the publication of his name, photograph, and “particulars of the allegations”.

“The privacy of an alleged complainant is of no greater importance than the privacy of an accused presumed to be innocent,” the attorney said.

“Our courts must be allowed to function unimpeded by any prejudice which is generated by public spectacle in these circumstances.”

Nicholson was released on bail in the amount of $1.2 million when he appeared in court on September 16.

He is scheduled to return to court on November 24.

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