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Official’s son charged for rape of girl, 14
Vishnu Singh, the son of a high-profile member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was
Vishnu Singh leaving the Sparendaam Court
hauled before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court yesterday to face the charge of rape of a child under 16 years old.
He left the courtroom two hours later having posted bail in the sum of $400,000.
General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh, was present in the courtroom so that when bail was fixed, he was on hand to post the stipulated sum and to support his son, Vishnu Singh. The matter was held in camera.
Neither the 14-year-old victim nor any of her relatives was in court. Singh was not required to plead when the charge was read to him by Magistrate Zamela Ali.
Prosecutor John Singh informed the Magistrate that the 23-year-old, who manages a trucking business, allegedly met the complainant on January 27, last, on Agriculture Road. At the time, she was still attired in her uniform.
It is alleged that the assailant was driving his mother’s car and had lured the young woman into the vehicle under the pretext that they were going to discuss the things she needed for a beauty pageant she is interested in.
The Prosecutor also revealed that the accused and the victim stayed in contact for some time on Facebook and text messages via mobile phones.
The Magistrate took note of the point that Singh had voluntarily presented himself to the police for questioning when the allegations were made by the victim.
Kaieteur News understands that the accused claims that he did not rape the teenage girl but that the sex was consensual. However, the age of consent in Guyana, is 16 years old.
Attorney at Law, Ganesh Hira, represented Singh and stated that his client who lives at Lot 8 Back Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara with his parents and siblings had no prior charges and that it was the first time he is before any court. He requested bail in a reasonable amount. But the Prosecutor objected.
Despite a police officer, who was recently exposed in an attempt to negotiate settlement with the victim’s cousin, being investigated, the accused was granted bail.
The businessman is required to report to Sparendaam Police Station every Friday at 10:00 hrs and refrain from making any contact with the victim via any means. He was also instructed to lodge his passport with the court.
After the matter was heard, the GRDB Manager left the court room and returned to post bail for his son.
The accused lingered in the courtroom for several minutes. With his head tucked in the front of his blue, plaid shirt, he hurried down the stairs to the back of the court where his father was parked and waiting to collect him.
Reporters swarmed the full-figured man until he got into the back seat of his father’s Nissan truck.
Jagnarine Singh appeared to be peeved that media operatives followed his son, as he was heard, shouting, “Hey, Hey, Hey, Don’t touch my vehicle. Back off.”
The accused is scheduled to return on February 18.
Kaieteur News had initially broken the story on Sunday. The teen had submitted detailed statements of the alleged rape as well as a medical document to police. She reportedly also took photographs which show bite marks that were allegedly inflicted during the assault.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster had subsequently urged Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud to give the case “special attention.”
Webster had also requested that Persaud conduct a “detailed investigation” into allegations that a police rank tried to pervert the course of justice into the matter.
Just one day after, the Director of Public Prosecutions was in possession of the file and had advised for the son of the prominent official to be charged. The matter involving the alleged defaulting officer is still being investigated.
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