Latest update April 24th, 2026 12:40 AM
Man charged with unlawfully detaining minor
Twenty-eight-year-old Sherwin Lewis, a resident of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, was not required to plead when Magistrate Fazil Azeez read him an indictable charge which stated that he unlawfully detained a minor.
Sherwin Lewis as he exited the courthouse yesterday
Azeez, who yesterday resumed magistracy at the Vreed-en-Hoop Court, revealed that between Sunday, August 9 and Monday, August 10 last, Lewis detained four-year-old Varsha Singh, with the intent of depriving Parbattie Motieram and Surujpaul Singh of possession of their child.
The Magistrate pointed out that Lewis was not being charged for the crime of kidnapping as no ransom was demanded upon the child’s disappearance. He however did not fail to emphasise the fact that the charge laid against the accused was a very serious one.
And based on information from an ongoing investigation into the matter, the Magistrate disclosed that he had been informed that additional charges were likely to be laid against Lewis.
And if such a course of action is taken, Magistrate Azeez noted that he could institute the Administration of Justice Act (AJA).
Once the AJA is applied, the Magistrate revealed that he would commence a Preliminary Inquiry and that the accused will be allowed the right to plead.
Azeez related, too, that he would reserve the right to refer the case to a judge and jury.
However, Lewis was yesterday remanded to prison until next Monday when he is expected to make another court appearance.
After disappearing from her parent’s home about three weeks ago, the missing child was rescued by a number of concerned residents last Friday who discovered that she was being held by the accused in a makeshift structure in an overgrown section of a burial ground.
Lewis, according to reports, was able to elude the angry residents but was later apprehended by officers of the Leonora Police Station.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.