Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Commodore, Floyd Moxey revealed on Wednesday that formal charges will be brought against an officer accused of abuse by female RBDF recruits.

Moxey said the Chief Petty Officer was arraigned within the RBDF justice system on Wednesday. He also refuted reports that the female marines were sexually assaulted. He said, “the Chief Petty Officer has been charged with five counts assault and he has also been charged with drunkenness contrary to the Defence Act. Now there has been no complaint, there has been no report or allegation of sexual assault contrary to what has been reported by some f the local media houses.”

Moxey went further stating, “once the arraignment is completed, today at 13:30 I have directed the command staff to draft me papers of interdiction and I intend to interdict the said Chief Petty Officer by 17:00 hours today.”

The RBDF Commodore also explained that the Chief Petty Officer will be relieved of all duties and be banned from entering any installation. “The Chief Petty Officer will be summoned for trial and that trial will proceed swiftly. This Chief Petty Officer is a twenty one year veteran of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and he is also a training instructor,” Moxey said.

He said where any any RBDF training instructors fall afoul of the law the force will be decisive and act swiftly. Commodore Moxey also promised complete transparent.