After successful arguments by the defence a 30-year-old man who was charged with four counts of carnal knowledge was granted pre-trial freedom in the sum of $200,000 at the Blairmont Court yesterday.
It is alleged that on September 12 and 25 and on October 9 and 23 at Fort Wellington, Abdul Waheed of D’ Edward Village had carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl. He was not required to plead to the offence.
Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Satrohan Dayaram had told the court that the virtual complainant (VC) was obviously “in a state of trauma and she trembles when she sees the accused.” He said yesterday that the VC is currently seeking psychiatric treatment. If the accused is placed on bail, the prosecutor said, he would interfere with the witness.
Magistrate Geeta Chandan had initially placed Waheed on $300,000 bail but granted a request by defence counsel, Joel Persid Edmond for the bail to be reduced to $200,000 as that was all the relatives had in their possession at the time.
Edmond argued that what was before the court was a mere allegations and that until the preliminary inquiry was conducted, his client was presumed innocent. He said he was concerned that a man’s liberty was being taken away without due process.
He submitted that the “zero tolerance” and the “stamp it out” campaign that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has embarked on to stamp out sexual offences would not completely stop the offence but would “cause malicious convictions.”
He further argued that “no one should be harassed or raped. But all men are at risk
