The vigilance of some residents of Dageraad Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden has led to the arrest of a 48-year-old businessman and the removal of two schoolgirls from his home.
Shortly after school recess neighbours noticed two young girls, ages 13 and 14 years old, dressed in their school uniform entering the home of the businessman.
They summoned a parent of one of the girls and the probation and family welfare unit at Linden in the company of a police officer bore down on the house where the two girls were found in the businessman’s company.
According to residents the businessman is in the habit of luring young girls to his home.
“Is time this nonsense come to an end – many times we called the police to come and arrest this man but they never come. I don’t know if they were afraid of him because he got contact in high places and he is a rural constable…,” one neighbour who chose to remain anonymous said. According to reliable sources a neighbour spotted the two girls going into the businessman’s home shortly after 11:00 am on Wednesday. It happened that one of the girls was well known to the neighbour and her parent was alerted.
Stabroek News understands that the parent called the school and enquired about the whereabouts of the child and subsequently a senior teacher questioned other students and the neighbour’s complaint was confirmed.
The parent then summoned a child care counsellor who accompanied by the parent and a police officer went to the home where the girls were found. The businessman was taken into custody at the Mackenzie Police station and the two girls were taken to the Linden Hospital Complex for examination.
A relative close to the case said that both girls were part of a reform programme at a private school but one recently had to discontinue the course for reasons unknown. She has been living with her aunt since her father had to transfer her from Georgetown to be with his relative following her delinquent behaviour.
Another person close to the case said that the businessman has been offering one parent money to drop the matter but his offer was refused.