Breaking down the Sexual Offences Act
This week, we will be breaking down section 35 of Sexual Offences Act, Cap 8:03, Laws of Guyana (“the SOA”) beginning with offences outside Guyana.
In essence, this provision seeks to make it clear that any citizen or resident of Guyana who commits an offence under the SOA in any other country is also considered to have committed a sexual offence under Guyana’s laws under certain conditions. The effect of this provision is that Guyana’s courts, whether magistrates’ courts or the High Court, can have jurisdiction to try Guyanese citizens or residents who commit sexual offences in overseas jurisdictions.
Such provisions are especially helpful where the perpetrators commit sexual offences overseas and then flee those jurisdictions to hide in Guyana. We break down these conditions, and other relevant provisions below.
