The ex-cop, who allegedly raped a teenage girl last October, was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Mark Forde, 36, of First Street, Craig Village, East Bank Demerara was not required to plead to the indictable charge of rape. Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read the charge to the accused and explained that “a preliminary inquiry will be conducted in the Magistrate’s Court to determine whether there is a prima facie case.”
It is alleged that on October 10, 2008 at Craig Village Forde had carnal knowledge of a female who was 17-years-old at the time. No action had been taken against him since then and it was only after the publication of a news item in the Sunday Stabroek of June 21 that there was movement.
Forde, an aviation security officer at the time of the alleged attack, has lost his job as a result of the allegations against him, defence attorney Roger Yearwood told the court. The accused has no criminal record the attorney pointed out and went on to apply for bail.
Police prosecutor Munilall Seetaram objected to bail citing possible tampering with the witness by the accused and the seriousness of the offence. However, in response to Seetaram’s objection Yearwood stated that during the months before the accused was charged with the offence he did not in any way interfere with the witness. In a case such as this, the attorney continued, the prosecution should provide evidence to support the tampering allegations laid against Forde.
After listening to the submissions made by both parties Magistrate Robertson asked the virtual complainant whether she wished to address the court. She signalled that she wanted to address.
“He [Forde] has been spreading rumours and telling everyone that his sister who is a police officer is who has power and we can’t do anything to him,” she said in a clear voice.
At this point the magistrate invited both parties to approach the bench. The virtual complainant was accompanied by the probation officer assigned to the case. Several minutes of whispered exchanges ensued.
Magistrate Robertson after listening to both parties refused Forde bail. The matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court and continues on Friday.
The virtual complainant, now 18-years-old, was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) on Saturday following an attempt to end her life after becoming frustrated at investigations into the rape.
Sources told this newspaper on Monday that since the report of the teenager’s suicide attempt was published in the last edition of the Sunday Stabroek, senior police officers were propelled into action.
Stabroek News was also reliably informed that the case file was returned to the police since March 30 this year with advice to charge Forde. The file, reports stated, had been sitting at the Brickdam Police Station since.
Further reports also indicated that Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack had cause to write a letter to the police complaining about the conduct of a police officer investigating the matter and she recommended that the matter be addressed at the Police Office of Professional Responsibility.
The matter had also been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and officers there held several counselling sessions with the teenager.
