Man accused of indecent assault of 17-year-old remanded

Magistrate Geeta Chandan yesterday remanded to prison a West Coast Berbice man who is accused of indecently assaulting a 17-year-old-girl when he appeared to answer to charges at the Fort Wellington Court.

The court heard that Mark Wood, 39, of Number 4 Village, who works in the “bush” committed the offence on Monday at the said location.

The girl’s father told the court that he wished to settle the matter since the case would take him away from his work. But Magistrate Chandan said the girl is close to becoming an adult and he does not have to be present at court. Further, the magistrate said, the offence is serious and she is not prepared to dispose of it even though the girl said that she had received compensation.

The magistrate ordered a probation intervention into the matter. The case will be called again on April 5.