Harold Naurayan, who was found guilty of raping a six-year-old girl, has been sentenced to 19 years in jail.
Justice Brassington Reynolds handed down the sentence on Monday in the High Court at Berbice, where a jury had earlier found Naurayan guilty by majority.
Naurayan, 41, of Coopers Lane, New Amsterdam, was told by the judge that he had breached the trust placed in him by a family and he had sought to prey on the girl and her innocence.
Although the offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, the judge opted for a much smaller sentence after listening to the probation report, the mitigation plea submitted by Naurayan’s attorney and a psychiatric evaluation of the child.
The probation report presented by Social Welfare Officer Judith Vankennie stated that Naurayan, a father of six, was known to be an honest and reliable individual, who shared a good relationship with persons he came into contact with and his family. As a result, the report stated that his actions were a shock to the family.
The welfare officer also stated that the victim received counselling from the Ministry of Human services, while psychiatrist Dr Mayda Grajales reported to the court that the child, though in a stable state and not mentally ill, needs more evaluation.
In a statement to the court, Naurayan had said he was at sea when he was alleged to have committed the crime.
The judge started the sentence at 20 years but subtracted a year due to Naurayan’s previously unblemished record.
The matter was prosecuted by state counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin.
