An Essequibo Coast man was remanded on the charge of carnal knowledge of a girl under 16 years of age when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
It is alleged that Azim Mohammed of 104 Johanna Cecelia, Essequibo Coast, had been sexually involved with the minor during November 24 to December 31, 2007. However, he denies the accusation.
The prosecution said that the defendant is a hire car driver. The defendant’s lawyer Troy Deygoo said that the allegations were untrue. He said that the girl’s family was looking for someone to blame and his client was being used as a ‘scapegoat’.
In his bid for bail for his client, Deygoo told the court that his client had fully co-operated with the police from the time he was arrested until now and he would attend court as ordered.
The prosecution, however, objected to this. “We are prepared to defend this matter to the end,” said prosecutor Denise Griffith. She said that there is a high possibility the defendant will interfere with the virtual complainant”. The matter was transferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court for February 27.
