(Trinidad Guardian) Construction tycoon Emile Elias has made his first appearance in court after being charged with grooming and sexual penetration of a 17-year-old.
Elias, who was granted $100,000 bail by a Justice of the Peace (JP) after being charged, appeared virtually before Port-of-Spain Magistrate Adia Mohammed.
During the hearing, Mohammed read the charges to 84-year-old Elias, who was not called upon to plead.
Mohammed also certified the bail bond issued by the JP and chose not to vary it.
Police prosecutors also used the hearing to disclose the summary of evidence against Elias to his team of attorneys.
Elias, who lives at Fairways in Maraval and is chairman of his construction company NH International, is accused of sexually penetrating the teenager in St James in November 2019.
Elias, who previously served as chairman of State-owned Telecommunication Services of T&T (TSTT), is also charged with grooming the minor for several months before the alleged attack.
Elias is being represented by Gilbert Peterson, SC, Pamela Elder, SC and John Heath.
He is expected to reappear in court on May 19.
