West Berbice school teacher Ronald Forde, who allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a child, was granted $300,000 bail by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang last Friday.
A petition filed by Wilton Nelson, the grandfather of the accused, stated that the police prosecutor had objected to bail on the grounds of the nature and gravity of the charge.
Other grounds cited were a likelihood that the accused may flee the jurisdiction; that he had been charged with a similar offence, and was likely to tamper with the witness.
However, the petition informed that the accused had never been charged before with a similar offence and was a very active member of his church and community.
The petitioner described his grandson’s character as impeccable and one of honesty and integrity.
The bail application, drafted by Attorney-at-law Charrandas Persaud, said the accused was willing to lodge his passport as security, resign from the learning institution, remove from the district, and attend any police station as directed by the court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions was represented by Attorney-at-Law Rahamat.
Forde, a 25-year-old of Lot 2 Section A, Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, between September 1 and October 31, 2010, at Fort Wellington Secondary School, allegedly engaged in sexual activity with 14-year-old student of the same school.
It was alleged also that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the victim was 18 years or over, and he knew or reasonably could have expected to have known of the position of trust he held in relation to the minor.
