A father and son from Better Hope were refused bail when they appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday charged with procuring a female for common prostitution and managing or keeping a bawdy house.
Joseph Baker, 58, and Carlos Baker, 35, were each charged with procuring a female for common prostitution and managing or keeping a bawdy house.
It is alleged that between January 1 and April 27 at 19 Narine Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, Joseph Baker procured a female to become a common prostitute. It is also alleged that Joseph Baker at 19 Narine Street, Better Hope, ECD kept or managed a bawdy house. The elder Baker pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Meanwhile his son, Carlos Baker, was alleged to have between January 1 and April 27 at 19 Narine Street, Better Hope, ECD, procured a female to become a common prostitute. It is also alleged that Carlos Baker at 19 Narine Street, Better Hope, ECD kept or managed a bawdy house. The son too pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In his application for bail for his clients, Attorney-at-law Vic Puran said that Joseph was a businessman who operated a beer garden at the Better Hope address and his son was a farmer. Puran said that the matter was several months old in investigation and the female named in the charges was not the virtual complainant.
Puran said the girls came from out of town and had nowhere to sleep and his client had offered them his available room. He went on to say that his clients are traumatised by this charge. Puran said that they are humble and modest people who were on self-bail for several months and are not avoiding court at all. The prosecution did not object to bail but asked that the matter be transferred to the Sparendaam Court.
According to the sworn officer in the matter, five Amerindian girls had sought employment with Baker’s business. They were being paid $5,000 a week and were charged $3,000 a week each for the rooms they rented.
The officer said Baker’s “customers” would solicit sex from the girls and they would refuse, but they were allegedly told by Baker that they must “entertain customers”.
Baker also allegedly told the girls that they could not leave since they owed money and had to work until it was paid off.
One of the girls eventually reported the matter. The officer said that the girls, who had left their villages seeking work to help their families, had gone back to their homes.
After listening to the submissions, Magistrate Robertson denied bail. The Bakers are to make their next court appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
