The Alexander Village Muslim leader, who is accused of having carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl, made another court appearance yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson ordered that Clairmonte Meertins, of Lot 6063 Cross Street, Alexander Village, East Bank Demerara, be further remanded to prison. His lawyer applied for bail for him but Prosecutor Stephen Telford informed the court that advice on how the case should be dealt with should be received soon from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The prosecutor added that a report on this may be given to the court as early as Meertins’ next court date, which is set for May 11.
Meertins had first appeared in court on April 16 before the acting chief magistrate and he was not required to enter pleas to two indictable carnal knowledge charges. It is alleged that on February 14 and again on February 19, Meertins had carnal knowledge of the teenage girl.
The teen, who was present at the first hearing, had related to the court that she was held prisoner in a box in Meertins’ house for over a month and he would gag her month and tie her hands together whenever anyone came to visit.
She said that she later escaped when Meertins had forgotten his keys at home one day.
