Describing his actions as “predatory” and his thoughts “beastly,” Justice Brassington Reynolds yesterday sentenced 44-year-old minibus driver Inteaz Mohamed to serve 25 years in prison for raping a school girl whom he transported to lessons.
A jury had convicted Mohamed last month on two counts of raping the then 15-year-old but his sentencing had been deferred for a probation report and victim impact statement.
According to a statement read by counsellor Raynasha Garnette-Callender, the young woman, who is now 21, called for the maximum penalty, citing the psychological despair in which she has been left.
The court heard that the assault has been the “most painful” experience the woman has had to endure, even as she stated that she still feels “scared, helpless and traumatized,” and finds it difficult to trust persons.
Underscoring the need to send a strong message to potential offenders, whom he said may be harbouring the same “beastly thoughts,” Justice Reynolds imposed 25 years on each count against Mohamed; but ordered that they be served concurrently.
In a stern reprimand, the judge told Mohamed, who continued to maintain his innocence, that he had violated the bodily integrity of the child and breached the trust not only she, but her parents and family had reposed in him.
Justice Reynolds said that the Court needed to “set its face against” the scourge of sexual offences and the continuing disregard of those minibus and hire car drivers who transport children and view such acts as “fair game,” or that the children “are theirs for the taking.”
The judge said that drivers who transport children must be seen as fathers who would protect and not violate or harm children in any way and that parents and guardians must be able to feel comfortable and assured of this.
Mercy
When given a chance to speak, Mohamed, who had begged the judge for mercy even as he said he wanted to die because he was sick and could not deal with all that has been happening, continued to profess his innocence.
Mohamed’s story is that he had been wrongfully accused.
He then went on to say that he was in the United States (US) at the time he was contacted by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and informed that his trial had been set to commence.
According to the offender, he could have remained in the US and hid himself but decided to return in a bid to clear his name “because I know that I am innocent and have nothing to hide.”
In his address, Mohamed then asked the judge to consider his teenage daughter, whom he said is suffering as much as “or even more than me” because of all that has transpired due to the case.
His attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, also echoed his cries for clemency, advancing in her plea of mitigation that he has never had prior brushes with the law, that he was a productive citizen, and that the probation report described him as hardworking, upstanding and kind in his community.
Responding directly to Mohamed, however, Justice Reynolds told him that he could get no credit for disregarding the verdict of his peers, his lack of remorse and not taking responsibility for what he had done.
For the feelings he expressed of wanting to die, the judge told Mohamed that he could also get no credit.
In fact, Justice Reynolds told him had it not been for his lawyer’s mitigating plea, he had intended to impose a life sentence to set him apart from society “whose values and norms you flagrantly disregarded.”
The judge also referenced the six years since the assault, during which Mohamed had been able to freely walk and even travel to the United States, all while the complainant was made to endure the torment and trauma of the dastardly acts committed on her.
‘The justice I needed’
According to the victim impact statement, the complaint said that while she still continues to suffer in manifold ways from the assault, there is some solace from Mohamed having been convicted.
“I am now pleased he is far away from me. I can finally resume my life where I can continue my studies. I’m hoping that he is kept as far away from me for as long as possible so that I can be safe and live my life. I believe this was the justice I needed,” the complainant is reported to have said, according to the impact statement read.
Meanwhile, regarding allegations in the said statement of cyber harassment and exposure of her identity by whom the virtual complainant said are Mohamed’s relatives, Justice Reynolds told Prosecutor Sarah Martin and the victim’s counsellor to ensure the matter is reported to police.
By a majority of 10 to 1 for both counts, the jury had found Mohamed guilty of the offences.
The first charge stated that between September 1, 2014 and September 30, 2014, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16. The second charge stated that between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2015, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16.
According to the prosecution’s facts, in September of 2014, the accused picked the victim up from her lessons and took her to Turkeyen road, where MovieTowne is now located, and held a knife to her and told her not to scream. He then raped her. Afterward, he threatened to kill both of them if she told anyone. He also told her he would be charged with rape if she talked.
In January 2015, the prosecutor had said, Mohamed again picked the girl up from lessons and drove to the Turkeyen location and raped her again. He had the same knife in the vehicle as he did before and he threatened to kill her and himself if she told anyone what had happened.
