Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Teacher refused bail on carnal knowledge charge
Carnal knowledge accused Ronald Forde arriving at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Ronald Forde, the 25-year-old teacher of the Fort Wellington Secondary School on the West Coast of Berbice, was charged yesterday with having carnal knowledge of one of his students, aged 14, fully knowing that she was under the age of 18.
The charge, to which he was not required to plead, was read to the trained teacher at the Weldaad Magistrate’s court. He was subsequently refused bail by Magistrate Roby Benn who set the next court appearance for March 2, at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court.
After the hearing defence counsel said that his client was prepared to lodge his passport with the police. He said that Forde has been a very active member of his Bel-Air, West Coast Berbice community.
The defence counsel added that the teacher’s pastor has been helping his client to deal with the ordeal. The lawyer stated that the allegations against his client are just that, allegations, and that this is not the first carnal knowledge matter in Guyana.
He questioned why the media has given the matter so much attention, and expressed shock about it being published on the international scene.
The lawyer later said that his client was willing to resign from his job and relocate from the district.
Forde arrived at the court in handcuffs, shortly after 10am and while seated, awaiting his case to be called, he broke down in tears. When it was time for the matter to be called, the magistrate ordered the media and public out of the courtroom, saying that it was a matter that involved a juvenile.
The in camera hearings lasted less than 15 minutes.
Forde was then escorted over to the Weldaad Police Station during which he covered his head with a shirt given to him by a family member.
Forde had complained of losing his cell phone about two weeks ago. The phone was eventually found and after it was perused, images of him having sex with the female student were reportedly seen on the device.
It was rumoured that the teacher and student were having an affair.
The matter was subsequently reported and ranks of the New Amsterdam and Fort Wellington Police Stations, including Commander of ‘B’ Division, Steven Merai, swooped down on the premises and arrested the teacher. (Leon Suseran)
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