Man accused of raping 9-y-o

A 33-year-old network technician accused of raping a nine-year-old girl was offered bail on Thursday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, with strict conditions imposed by Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque. His name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim.

The accused was offered bail in the sum of $400,000 with at least two sureties.

In his application, attorney-at-law Charles Williams told the court that his client denies all the allegations and will relocate from the community where the alleged incident occurred to live with other relatives.

"He has no previous convictions and denies the allegations. They are very serious allegations but we are saying that the accused is not a flight risk, and he can report, if Your Honour is minded, to the police station every day," Williams submitted.

After hearing his submission the senior judge asked prosecutors if they were opposed to bail.

"Your Honour, I see where the complainant is nine years old and I would want to speak with someone senior from CISOCA [Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse] for them to have a look before the accused is offered bail. She is nine years old," the prosecutor stressed.

"I didn't know she was so young. It is troubling, the age of the complainant and I think I know where the prosecutor's mind might be but I think there are sufficient conditions that can be put in place," the judge responded.

The accused was ordered to surrender his travel documents, to have no contact or communication with the complainant, her mother or any other Crown witness. He is to reside with his brother in St Catherine and is not to visit the community where the incident allegedly took place. In addition, he is to report to the police three times a week and was made the subject of a daily curfew. A stop order was imposed and a fingerprint order made.

Judge Cole-Montaque instructed the police to complete the file, as it was disclosed to the court that interviews were not conducted with the complainant's mother.

The matter was adjourned until September 21 for mention.