If they tried to leave the estate, Nygard Cay, the victims were harassed and tormented by Bahamian law enforcement and politicians that the millionaire paid off, according to the suit.
"The scheme was so successful that victims who escaped Nygard Cay were often brought back to the Cay by the Bahamian police," the lawsuit alleges. It was filed in US District Court for the Southern District of New York last week by Greg Gutzler and Lisa Haba of the law firm DiCello Levitt Gutzler, attorneys for the victims in the case.
The victims identified in the suit were between 14 to 29 years old at the time of the alleged abuse. Nine of the victims were born in the Bahamas and one is from the United States. Several of them were virgins when they were raped, according to the 54-page complaint.
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The lawsuit against Nygard alleges that the abuse on his Bahamian property was allowed to continue, in part, because of the millions of dollars he paid to local officials and law enforcement.
"Those of his 'girlfriends' who tried to leave him were harassed and threatened by Bahamian police who were on Nygard's payroll," the lawsuit said.
A message seeking comment from Bahamian police was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Nygard, according to the suit, also contributed at least $10 million to get former Prime Minister Perry Christie elected and paid to have individuals spread bad press about the opposing party in power at the time of the election.
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