A man who was said to be engaged to a girl under the age of 15 was refused bail after he appeared before Magistrate Geeta Chandan at the New Amsterdam Court recently to answer a charge of carnal knowledge.

It is alleged that on October 6, Phillip “Andrew” Perso of Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice had carnal knowledge of the girl at Glasgow Village.

Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Satrohan Diaram told the court that Perso and the victim were reportedly having a relationship for six months and that they were engaged three months ago. He said police received reports and subsequently arrested the man.

The prosecutor opposed bail on the grounds of the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence and said if the defendant were placed on bail, he would tamper with the witness.

He was remanded to prison and is scheduled to return to court on November 6 for bail review.

And in a separate incident, Leron Lewis of 48 Stanleytown, NA reportedly had carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl.

Lewis was also denied his pre-trial liberty and would return to court on November 6.