Magistrate Geeta Chandan remanded to prison a 30-year-old man charged with four counts of carnal knowledge against a 13-year-old girl, when he appeared at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
It is alleged that Abdul Waheed of D’Edward Village committed the offences on September 12 and 25 and on October 9 and 23 at Fort Wellington. He was not required to plead to the charges.
The girl, who was present during the closed hearing, cried and clung to her mother when she saw Waheed in the dock.
At the end of the proceedings she fainted and had to be lifted down the stairway.
In opposing bail Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Satrohan Dayaram, told the court that the victim was obviously “in a state of trauma and she trembles when she sees the accused.”
He said bail should be refused on the grounds of the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence.
Attorney-at-law Joel Edmond submitted that his client is married and works as a foreman in the engineering department of the Region Five regional office. He said the case put before the court is a mere allegation and that until the preliminary inquiry is conducted, his client is presumed innocent. He said Waheed has a function to perform and that that work would not be finished in his absence.
He asked that bail be granted even if in a substantial sum, to ensure his client’s attendance. He further argued that the offence is bailable and that the nature and gravity of an offence are not valid reasons for which bail should be refused, rather it should be determined by whether the persons are flight risks or would tamper with witnesses.
Magistrate Chandan res-onded that the fact the defendant performs an important duty is no merit and when persons are placed before the court for an offence they would be dealt with accordingly.
Waheed is scheduled to return to court on November 26 for bail review.