A Grade Six primary school pupil accused of committing an act of gross indecency with a six-year-old boy was granted bail when he appeared at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The boy, aged 11, was not required to plead to the charge of committing an act of gross indecency with a male person and Magistrate Fazil Azeez granted him bail in the sum of $25,000.
It is alleged that on Monday at a primary school on the West Coast Demerara, the accused, a male person, committed an act of gross indecency with the virtual complainant, a male person.
When the matter was called, the juvenile stood in the dock staring in front of him. Both of his parents were present.
Attorney-at-law Stephen Lewis entered an appearance for the minor. In a bail application, he stated that his client is 11 years old and has a fixed place of abode with his parents.
The defence counsel submitted that his client is a Grade Six primary school pupil and has never been previously charged.
He declared that the boy had been in custody since Monday and there were certain improprieties in the way investigations were carried out. He asked for reasonable bail to be granted.
Police Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambajue said there had been other complaints against the boy, but not of a similar nature.
The defence counsel responded that the police have information in relation to at least two other boys.
“I don’t know why they are not going after the other boys,” he said.
The magistrate in noting that it was not his policy to lock up children, granted bail but sternly warned the parents to ensure that their son attended court when required or the bail would be forfeited and an arrest warrant issued for him.
The minor will return to court on January 17 next year.
