In a shocking development, the director of Disney’s exclusive Castaway Cay cruise island in the Bahamas faces serious allegations of sexual assault. The Daily Mail has learned that Gursel Sahinbas, aged 65, has been accused of raping a 29-year-old American woman on a secluded beach.
Sahinbas allegedly committed the assault while the two were swimming at the island’s shipwreck-themed resort, according to reports. Despite the woman’s repeated pleas for him to stop, it is claimed that Sahinbas, who is married, continued his inappropriate actions in the water.
Following the incident, the woman returned to Florida but decided to report the alleged attack to Bahamian authorities in the United States a week later, on September 22.
The complaint was swiftly forwarded to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, leading to Sahinbas’s arrest by officers from Great Abaco, which is the closest island to Castaway Cay, spanning 1,000 acres.
On Thursday morning, the accused appeared in a court in Nassau facing charges of rape and indecent assault. He was released on a $15,000 cash bail and instructed not to initiate any contact with the victim.
The accused appeared in a Nassau court Thursday morning on rape and indecent assault charges where he was granted $15,000 cash bail and ordered not to contact the victim.
His attorney Tamika Roberts said Sahinbas was a British national who wanted to return to his home in Liverpool, northwest England.
Judge Petra Hanna agreed but said he must come back to the Bahamas for a January 21 hearing.
Gursel Sahibas, 65, a British national who served as director of Disney’s Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, appeared in a Nassau court Thursday morning on rape and indecent assault charges
Sahibas, who is married, is accused of indecently assaulting a 29-year-old victim when they went for a swim at the resort
Castaway Cay was formerly known as Gorda Cay before Disney snapped it up from the Bahamian government on a 99-year lease to make it an exclusive Caribbean Island stop for their cruise ship guests
‘As it relates to Castaway Cay, due to the allegations he has since lost his job. He is no longer employed at Disney Cruise line,’ Roberts told the court.
Sahibas, wearing a white shirt and black pants, was flanked by family members but said nothing as he left Nassau Supreme Court and was led to the adjacent police station ahead of his release.
Castaway Cay was formerly known as Gorda Cay before Disney snapped it up from the Bahamian government on a 99-year lease to make it an exclusive Caribbean Island stop for their cruise ship guests.
The House of Mouse spent around $25million transforming the undeveloped beauty spot into a shipwreck-themed resort complete with snorkeling trails, adult-only beaches and Pirates of the Caribbean deck parties.
The slice of sun-drenched tropical paradise is also home to around 140 employees and has its own post office and private airstrip.
Sahibas was introduced as Castaway Cay’s island sirector when he was featured in a recent Nassau Guardian article about Disney volunteers joining Abaco schoolchildren to teach them about sustainable agriculture.
He helped youngsters plant seeds and harvest lettuces, tomatoes, and cucumbers, according to the May 5 report.
‘We were amazed to see the students’ enthusiasm and knowledge about their crops.
Sahinbas was arrested by cops from Great Abaco, the nearest island to Castaway Cay and has been since granted $15,000 cash bail and ordered not to contact the victim
Disney spent around $25million transforming the undeveloped beauty spot into a shipwreck-themed resort complete with snorkeling trails and Pirates in the Caribbean deck parties
‘It was inspiring to see their eagerness to learn and make an impact in the world around them,’ Sahinbas told the outlet.
The Daily Mail contacted Disney for comment but had not received a response prior to publication.
The US State Department currently considers the Bahamas a Level 2 risk for American tourists, urging them to exercise increased caution.
‘Violent crime – like armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults – can occur anywhere in The Bahamas,’ a March 31 advisory warned.
The notice said there had been a recent spate of sexual assaults reportedly by jet ski operators.
‘Sexual assaults have occurred on and near downtown Nassau beaches. Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert in public restrooms,’ the notice added.
Closer to home, Disney was rocked by three deaths in a ten-day span this past month at its Florida resorts.
Summer Equitz, 31, plunged to her death from a balcony at the Contemporary Resort on October 14.
The Daily Mail learned that Equitz gave birth to a baby daughter earlier this year and was believed to have been suffering from postpartum depression.
Her death from blunt force trauma was declared a suicide.
On October 21, a guest in his 60s succumbed to a medical episode while staying at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
Two days later the Contemporary Resort was hit with another tragedy when aspiring NFL referee Matthew Cohn jumped from a balcony in a suspected suicide.
