A Pomona, Essequibo Coast man was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before the Charity Magistrate’s Court, charged with raping a woman.
Leson Jason Gilkes, 28, called ‘Red Man’, a porter, was not required to plead to the indictable charge read to him which stated that on November 18, on the Essequibo Coast, he engaged in sexual penetration of a woman without her consent.
It is the police’s case that on the day in question, the victim was asleep when she felt a hand on her face. She opened her eyes and saw the accused. She was ordered to be quiet and complied. The accused then had sexual intercourse with her for 8 to 9 minutes without her consent, after which he escaped.
According to information received by this publication, the woman alerted neighbours and Gilkes was caught and beaten and later handed over to the police. The man sustained injuries to his left hand and was hospitalized.
Attorney Latchmie Dindyal who represented the accused, asked for reasonable bail stating that Gilkes had no antecedents and was not a flight risk.
However, Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambajue objected to bail citing the nature of the offence and the fact that the rape victim, who is six months pregnant is currently hospitalized and in danger of losing her child. He also stated that Gilkes had given the police his address as Reliance Essequibo Coast and if granted bail, he may not return to court.
When asked by Magistrate Sunil Scarce why he gave a different address to the police, an emotional Gilkes who stood in the prisoners’ dock said he was confused at the time of his arrest.
“Sir, this is just a embarrassment for me and my family,” the man said.
Bail was refused and the man was remanded to prison until December 16 when the matter is expected to be called at the Anna Regina Magistrates Court.
