A 16-year-old chainsaw operator was yesterday charged with the rape of a child under the age of 16 years old and later released into the custody of his parents.
The teenager appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Charity Magistrate’s Court, where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge which was read to him by the magistrate of rape of a child under 16 years of age contrary to Section 10 (3) of the Sexual Offences Act Chapter 8:03.
According to the police, the teenager was arrested in February this year on an allegation that he had sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old student on February 27.
An investigation was conducted by the Sexual Offences Unit and the file was later sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who advised police to institute the charge of rape of a child under 16 years old.
The teenager was released into the custody of his parents and ordered by the magistrate to report to the Charity Police Station every Friday.
He is expected to return to court on July 11, for the statements to be filed in the matter.
