A businessman and a vendor were yesterday remanded to prison after being accused of forcing a woman into sex work as they held her against her will at an interior location.
The charge against Mark Williamson, 48, of Lot 177 Haslington, East Coast Demerara, and Ronica Clarke, 26, of Lot 1047 Fourth field, Cane Grove, East Bank Demerara, stated that between May 24 and June 26, at Ekereku, Essequibo, they engaged in human trafficking, in that they recruited the woman by means of deception for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Williamson, a father of six, and Clarke, a mother of three, both pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 2.
According to Prosecutor Deniro Jones, Clarke posed as the woman’s friend and told her she was going to take a visit to Ekereku. The woman went with her but was later kept against her will and forced to perform sexual acts.
The court heard that the woman was not allowed to leave after she was taken to a room and was forced to engage in sexual activities, while the defendants collected the money she earned. Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat represented Williamson, while Clarke was unrepresented. Fung-A-Fat, who asked for bail in a reasonable sum, told the court that Williamson owns a business in the interior and he sells groceries but knows nothing about the allegations laid against him.
Jones objected to bail for both defendants, while noting the nature and gravity of the charge as well as the prevalence of the offence in the country. He also told the court that after Williamson was arrested, he failed to provide the police with any address.
The magistrate upheld the prosecutor’s objections and bail was refused. The case was transferred to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court, where it is to be heard on September 17.
