Magistrate Kim Kyte-John granted bail to two men who were charged in separate incidents with indecent assault and indecent exposure when they on Thursday appeared at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that Desmond Benjamin, 41, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice, between September 30 and November 1, 2006, at the same village indecently assaulted a 12-year-old girl.

Benjamin’s attorney, Perry Gossai, in his application for bail said that his client has a wife and a child and a fixed place of abode. He also told the court that Benjamin works as a cane-cutter and asked the magistrate to consider that this is the out-of-crop season and grant him reasonable bail.

Police Prosecutor Rawle Ferreira did not oppose the bail application for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Bail was set at $70,000 and Benjamin was ordered to return to court on February 22.

Meanwhile Parsram Hookumchand, 38, who was charged with indecently exposing himself to a woman pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Hookumchand, a labourer, on January 21 at Rising Sun, allegedly committed the offence.

Gossai, his attorney, told the court that his client has a wife and three children and is employed at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council. He also said Hookumchand was told of the allegations and went to the court on his own.

The magistrate granted bail in the sum of $20,000 and ordered Hookumchand to appear at court on February 22.