Bail for market vendor accused of raping neighbour, 15

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A 32-year-old market vendor has been granted $200,000 bail after appearing in court charged with raping his 15-year-old former neighbour.

The man, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the victim, was granted bail after appearing before Magistrate Adrian Darmanie yesterday afternoon.

According to reports, the alleged attack took place at the victim’s home in Chaguanas on November 3.

The victim’s mother heard strange noises coming from her daughter’s room and allegedly caught the man in the act.

The man, a vendor at the Chaguanas Market, was slapped with a charge for sexual penetration of a child and two charges for sexual touching of a child.

In applying for bail for the man, his lawyer Bhimal Maharajh claimed that while the man used to live near the victim with his sister and mother, he currently lives in an apartment in Freeport.

Maharajh also admitted that the father of one had one conviction for marijuana possession. Police prosecutor Sgt Soodeen did not object to bail.

As part of his bail conditions, Darmanie ordered the man to report to his nearest police station weekly. He also imposed a curfew of 10 pm to 5 am for the duration of the case.

He was also ordered to stay 400 metres away from the victim and to refrain from contacting her directly or indirectly through social media.

The man is scheduled to reappear in court on January 5.