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RANKIN INLET - One of the most popular political figures of the past two decades in Rankin Inlet can get back to normal life after criminal charges against him were stayed in Rankin this week.

Lorne Kusugak was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of physical assault in August 2008 while still mayor of Rankin Inlet.

Charges have been stayed against Community and Government Services Minister Lorne Kusugak. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

A former Rankin resident stated that the incident took place at a gathering at Kusugak's home in May of 2001.

The complainant accused Kusugak of using physical force in an attempt to commit sexual assault and tried to render her incapable of resisting his actions by choking with his hand.

The Crown decided to stay the case after further review of the evidence.

It now has 12 months to revive the charges or they will be dropped all together.

Since the time the charges were laid, Kusugak won the riding of Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove in the territorial election.

The MLA was then named minister of Community and Government Services for the Nunavut government.

Kusugak said although there's still a year to go before the charges can be dropped all together, he feels a tremendous weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

He said he now feels like he truly won the election in his riding for the first time.

"It's hard to be truly happy when something that heavy is hanging over your head, even though you know you're innocent," said Kusugak.

"You're thinking about it every waking moment you're not preoccupied with something else.

"It's always there."

Kusugak said his family supported him throughout the ordeal.

He said he doesn't know how he would have survived without the support of his immediate family and close personal friends.

"When you're accused of something like this, you find out who your true friends are very quickly.

"I'd never wish this on anybody."

Kusugak said he was always the type of person who believed you can never be too careful in what you do and say.

He said you always wonder who's judging you because you can never talk about what happened.

"When someone starts talking to you, you cringe in the back of your mind hoping it's not going to come up because you can't talk about it and that's very hard on you.

"When you have a hard day at the office, or the kids have a hard day at school, you go home and talk about it and everyone feels better.

"But, with something like this, you're told you can't talk about it and that makes things very, very difficult for you because you can't talk to anyone to relieve some of the pressure from your mind.

"Now that it's over, I just don't want to think about it for awhile. Taima.

"I'm not going to worry about it and we'll see what happens in a year's time."